ISTANBUL / Laith Al-Junaidi / Anadolu

Iraqi authorities announced on Tuesday the resumption of flights to and from Erbil International Airport, after a temporary suspension following a wave of attacks on the city and its airspace.

The Iraqi News Agency (INA) reported that Erbil International Airport had resumed its flights after a temporary suspension.

Earlier on Tuesday, INA quoted the airport director, Ahmad Hoshyar, as saying that 'flights to and from Erbil Airport were temporarily suspended due to a wave of attacks targeting the city of Erbil and its airspace,' without details on the nature of the attacks.

Hoshyar explained at the time that flights would resume as soon as the security situation stabilizes and returns to normal.

Local media outlets, including Shafaq News, reported earlier on Tuesday that air defense systems in Erbil intercepted four drones attempting to target the US consulate in the city.

Iran launches attacks on camps of Iranian Kurdish groups opposed to the government in Tehran in the Iraqi cities of Erbil and Sulaymaniyah, and also targets the US military base and the US Consulate General in Erbil.

For days, the United States has been conducting successive waves of strikes on sites inside Iran, while Tehran responds with attacks on military bases, installations, and sites it says are linked to Washington in regional countries, including areas in northern Iraq.

The escalation comes despite Washington and Tehran signing a memorandum of understanding in June that included a cessation of hostilities and the start of negotiations to reach a broader agreement.

But Trump announced on July 8 the end of the ceasefire, following attacks on tankers in the Strait of Hormuz that Washington accused Tehran of being behind, prompting the US to resume its strikes inside Iran amid escalating Iranian responses in the region.

Washington demands that Tehran stop attacking ships and ensure freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, while Iran insists on subjecting the transit of ships to a mechanism regulated by it through the strategic corridor, exacerbating fears of disruption to oil and gas exports from the region.