Jordan seizes Iraqi Airways assets in continuing row over Kuwaiti claim

This is the latest turn in the longest running civil legal case of all time which has been headed in the London courts. Judges in Europe and Canada have backed the UK court’s judgement that Iraq stole the Kuwait Airways fleet after the invasion of the country in 1990 and has ordered that Kuwait should be repaid the value of those assets – around $1.2 billion

Kuwait said last year that it believed assets worth at least $130 million were being held by Iraqi Airlines in Jordan

Chris Gooding, the London-based lawyer for Kuwait Airways said Kuwait is pursuing similar legal action in 15 counties where Iraqi Airways does business and is prepared to shut down flights if they are not repaid.

Global news agency Reuters has reported that Iraqi Airways has filed an appeal against the decision in Jordan, and quoted Karim al-Nuri, a media adviser to the Iraqi Transportation Ministry as saying: "Two days ago, the Iraqi Airways' office in Amman has been seized (by Kuwait) and $1.5 million of its assets have been frozen." These assets were reported in Jordan as being cash.

"This a serious step, and it will legitimise unacceptable mistakes in the future," Nuri told Reuters, adding that Iraqi Airways will continue flying to Jordan despite the freeze.