Iraq To Treat Unauthorised Drone Launches As Terrorist Acts

Iraq’s Interior Ministry has declared unauthorised drone launches “terrorist acts” under the country’s counterterrorism law as Baghdad intensifies efforts to bring weapons and armed activity under state control.

Interior Ministry spokesman Miqdad Miri said Monday that any drone launched without government authorisation would be treated as a “terrorist act” under the law.

The declaration comes as the Iraqi government steps up its campaign to register weapons and shut down unauthorised military positions as part of efforts to establish state control over arms.

Miri said authorities had closed 71 unauthorised bases linked to the Popular Mobilisation Forces, while more than 500,000 weapons had been registered under the government’s weapons registration programme.

The measures are aimed at preventing armed groups and individuals from possessing or using weapons outside the authority of the Iraqi state.

Baghdad has faced continued concerns over drone attacks launched from Iraqi territory, including attacks attributed to Iran-aligned armed groups, increasing pressure on the government to assert control over armed factions.