Foreign Ministry Official Spokesman Dr. Ahmed Al-Sahaf:

The Foreign Ministry upon the directives of Foreign Minister Mr. Mohamad A. Alhakim, in coordination with the Crisis Cell, the Ministry of Transport, the Government of the Kurdistan Region and Iraqi Airways , the Embassy of the Republic of Iraq to Riyadh, the Consul General in Jeddah, and the diplomatic staff in coordination with the relevant authorities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and through its communication with Iraqi pilgrims who wish to return to the country issued a list of the names and conducted an exceptional flight from Jeddah to Erbil, then from Erbil to Baghdad, carrying 173 pilgrims.