Iraq to prosecute illegal drone use under anti-terrorism law

BAGHDAD — Iraq’s Supreme Judicial Council on Wednesday instructed courts to apply the country’s anti-terrorism law to anyone involved in the manufacture, possession or use of illegal drones for unlawful purposes.

The council said courts should enforce Anti-Terrorism Law No. 13 of 2005 against “everyone who manufactures, uses, or possesses drones that are used for purposes contrary to the law.” The directive means suspects could face prosecution under the anti-terrorism framework rather than other criminal statutes.

The council gave no further detail on the offenses covered or what prompted the decision, and it was not clear whether the order was aimed primarily at armed groups or at unauthorized civilian use.

Iraq has seen repeated drone attacks by armed factions on military, diplomatic and energy targets, including a strike on a grain warehouse in Erbil governorate and a small drone that fell near the parliament speaker’s guesthouse in Anbar this month.

Authorities have separately reported a rise in unauthorized civilian and commercial drone use, including in smuggling.