WASHINGTON — The Federal Aviation Administration is restricting U.S. airlines from flying at or below 30,000 feet over Iraq because of what it calls “the potentially hazardous situation created by the ***** conflict” there.

The agency already had restricted flights in Iraqi air space to a 20,000-foot minimum.

The order issued Thursday night follows the ******* two weeks ago of ***************** ********* by a ******* as it flew over rebel-held territory in eastern *******.

Iraq also has been in turmoil as militants have fought government forces. Amid fears that militants had ******* capable of ******** down planes, several European carriers already have developed alternate flights plans for Iraq.

The FAA also is prohibiting U.S. carriers from flying in and out of two Iraqi airports, Erbil International and Sulaymaniyah International.