Iraq shuts key Shalamcheh trade crossing with Iran after airstrikes kill one, wound five, disrupting a major food supply route.
BASRA: Iraq closed the Shalamcheh border crossing with Iran following airstrikes that killed one Iraqi citizen and wounded at least five others.
The strikes hit a passenger reception area on the Iranian side of the vital trade route.
Security sources confirmed the closure, which shuts off a key artery for imports into Iraq.
The crossing is a main route for vegetables and other food supplies from Iran, according to traders and border officials.
Any prolonged disruption could quickly affect supplies to local Iraqi markets.
Iraqi police recovered the body of a man killed in the incident.
The wounded were taken to hospital, with most reported to be in critical condition.
Iraq’s border authorities stated they were notified by Iranian officials that movement would be restored in the coming hours.
The restoration is pending completion of work on the transit and passport systems.
Separately, Iraqi authorities also briefly halted movement at the Safwan crossing with Kuwait.
This followed reports of explosions on the Kuwaiti side hours after the Shalamcheh strikes.
Security and border officials said they saw drones hovering overhead moments before the blasts at the Kuwait border.
