The Iraqi minister of interior arrived in the Kurdistan Region through Erbil International Airport on Wednesday morning to supervise the implementation of a decision by Iraqi Premier Haider al-Aabdi to lift a ban on the region’s airports.

KRG released a statement saying Kurdish premier and Iraqi interior minister discussed the latest development between Erbil and Baghdad as well as the decision to lift the ban, NRT reported.

Both sides hoped the step to lift the ban on international flights would facilitate other steps such as salary of employees and solution of issues between Erbil and Baghdad.

His visit came after Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said on Tuesday that Erbil and Sulaimani international airports would again be "open to international flights".

The decision to lift the flight ban was made "after local Kurdish authorities accepted that central authorities retake control of the two airports," Abadi added.

Director of Sulaimani International Airport said the international flights from and to Kurdistan Region airports are set to restart on Thursday (March 15).

Reporter’s code: 50101