Iraq’s judiciary on Wednesday instructed courts across the country to apply the provisions of the Anti-Terrorism Law against individuals involved in the manufacture, use, or possession of drones for unlawful purposes, amid growing concerns over drone attacks targeting security and civilian infrastructure.

In a statement, the Supreme Judicial Council announced that relevant courts have been directed to enforce the provisions of Anti-Terrorism Law No. 13 of 2005 against anyone found manufacturing, operating, or possessing drones used in activities that violate Iraqi law.

The anti-terrorism legislation, introduced during the insurgency that followed the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq, carries severe penalties, including the death penalty, for individuals convicted of carrying out, financing, facilitating, or supporting terrorist acts.

The judicial directive comes in response to a notable increase in drone-related attacks across Iraq. In recent years, drones have been used by various armed groups, particularly Iran-backed militias operating in federal Iraq.

These attacks have targeted a range of locations and interests, including US military installations, diplomatic missions, and key civilian and economic facilities in the Kurdistan Region.

Drone and rocket attacks intensified during periods of heightened regional tensions, including the conflicts involving Iran, Israel, and the United States. During those periods, armed groups launched repeated strikes against US bases, the US Embassy in Baghdad, the US Consulate General in Erbil, and strategic infrastructure throughout the Kurdistan Region.

Kurdistan Region officials have repeatedly urged the federal government in Baghdad to identify those responsible for the attacks and ensure they are brought to justice.

The judiciary’s move also coincides with broader efforts by the Iraqi government, reportedly supported by the United States, to curb the influence of armed groups and limit the possession of weapons outside state control. Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi is said to be accelerating measures aimed at restricting unauthorized weapons and strengthening state authority over security matters.