Mosul Airport Resumes Operations, Ending 11 Years of Closure

Mosul International Airport has officially resumed operations after an 11-year closure, marking a significant milestone in the city’s post-war recovery and a powerful symbol of resilience.

The airport, located in the northern province of Nineveh, had been shut down in 2014 when ISIS seized Mosul and declared it the capital of its self-proclaimed caliphate, leaving the city and its infrastructure in ruins.

The liberation campaign, which began in October 2016, involved Iraqi federal forces supported by the U.S.-led Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS and Kurdish Peshmerga troops securing the city’s flanks and cutting off supply routes.

The airport itself was retaken in February 2017 but remained heavily damaged, requiring extensive reconstruction.

Beginning in August 2022, a $143 million rehabilitation project transformed the facility with a new main terminal, VIP lounge, modern radar systems, and a 3,000-meter runway.

The upgraded airport is designed to handle 630,000 passengers and 30,000 tons of cargo annually, providing a vital boost to local trade, tourism, and economic recovery.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani inaugurated the airport on July 16, coinciding with the anniversary of Mosul’s liberation, symbolizing both a celebration of survival and the city’s return to normalcy.