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New York Times: Baghdad International Airport Still Closed to Commercial Flights

Feb 9, 2026 February 9, 2026 1 min read 📰 VOA Persian
📋 Key Takeaway

Baghdad International Airport remains closed to commercial flights due to the U.S. military's inability to locate missing anti-aircraft missiles from Saddam Hussein's arsenal. U.S. officials are offering financial incentives for the recovery of these missiles, raising concerns about potential arms trafficking in the region.

🔍 Quick Context Guide
💡 Bottom Line: The inability to reopen Baghdad International Airport due to missing missiles underscores significant security risks in Iraq and the potential for increased arms trafficking.

👥 Key Players

United States Military MENTIONED
Coalition leader responsible for security in Iraq
"The U.S. military's presence and actions in Iraq are crucial for regional stability and influence over Iraq's governance."
Iraqi Government MENTIONED
National authority managing Iraq's security and infrastructure
"The Iraqi government is responsible for the safety and operations of key infrastructure like Baghdad International Airport."
Arms Traffickers MENTIONED
Potential illegal traders of military weapons
"Their activities could destabilize the region further and pose security threats to both Iraq and neighboring countries."

📰 What Happened

Baghdad International Airport remains closed to commercial flights due to the U.S. military's ongoing search for missing anti-aircraft missiles from Saddam Hussein's arsenal. U.S. officials are incentivizing the recovery of these missiles amid concerns about arms trafficking.

  • The U.S. military has not determined the total number of missing missiles from Saddam Hussein's arsenal.
  • Iraqis have delivered 317 missiles since early May, with more being found in hidden caches.

💡 Why It Matters

🇮🇷 For Iran: The closure of the airport could affect Iran's ability to influence Iraqi politics and maintain its logistical connections with allied groups in Iraq.
🌍 Regional: The presence of missing missiles raises security concerns for neighboring countries, particularly in terms of potential arms trafficking and regional instability.
🌐 International: The situation highlights ongoing challenges in U.S. military operations in Iraq and the complexities of post-conflict recovery and security.

📚 Background

Following the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003, many military assets from the former regime were lost or unaccounted for, leading to ongoing security challenges. The SA-7 missiles are particularly concerning due to their portability and potential use in conflicts.

Post-Saddam Iraq security issues U.S. military presence in the Middle East
📡 Source: INTERNATIONAL
📊 Confidence: 70%
The New York Times is considered a reputable source, but readers should remain aware of potential biases in framing military and geopolitical issues.

The New York Times reports that coalition officials led by the United States have not reopened Baghdad International Airport to commercial flights because the military has not yet been able to locate mobile anti-aircraft missiles that were part of Saddam Hussein's arsenal and are now missing. The report indicates that the U.S. military still does not know how many of these shoulder-fired missiles exist in the arsenal and how many are missing. According to the New York Times, U.S. officials have proposed paying $500 for each missile, most of which are of the Russian SA-7 model. The report adds that since early May, Iraqis have delivered 317 missiles, and more have been found in hidden caches. Officials are concerned that arms traffickers could easily enter Iraq and smuggle the missiles out of the country.

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Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →

Translation confidence: 85%

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