Iraq detains four drone traders in Baghdad, seizes over 20 UAVs

Iraq’s Federal Intelligence and Counter-Terrorism Service seized more than 20 locally manufactured drones in Baghdad and detained four people, according to the Iraqi Interior Ministry.

The detainees had been illegally trading drones and admitted that they had stored the unmanned aircraft for subsequent sale, Caliber.Az reports.

The seizure comes amid Baghdad’s efforts to strengthen state control over weapons and crack down on armed groups operating outside state structures.

Earlier, the Iraqi Interior Ministry stated that launching any drone without government authorisation would be treated as a terrorist act.

Reinforcing Baghdad’s position on state control over the country’s airspace, Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi visited the Air Defence Command on August 12, where he reviewed a plan to develop Iraq’s air defence system for 2026–2031 and stressed that Iraq would not allow its territory or airspace to be used to launch attacks against neighbouring countries.

By Jeyhun Aghazada