Iraq Dismantles Armed Cell in Babil, Seizes Drones

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) - Iraqi security forces have dismantled an armed network in Babil province that was allegedly preparing drone attacks against predetermined targets, seizing several drones, weapons and other equipment, Iraqi Government Spokesperson Haider Aboudi said.

The operation was carried out by the Counter-Terrorism Service and the National Intelligence Service after the agencies infiltrated the network, according to Aboudi in an interview with the Iraqi News Agency (INA).

"The agencies managed to infiltrate the network, dismantle its structure, and apprehend its members," Aboudi said, adding that security forces also confiscated weapons, equipment and several drones.

The government spokesperson said the network had been preparing attacks against specified targets but did not identify those targets or provide further details about the suspects' alleged affiliations.

Aboudi described the operation as tightly controlled and said it had prevented the planned attacks. He presented the operation as part of the government's broader effort to strengthen security and prevent armed groups from conducting operations outside state institutions.

Weapons policy gains urgency

The Babil operation comes as Baghdad presses ahead with a wider policy aimed at establishing state control over weapons.

Aboudi said Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi is engaged in direct dialogue with armed groups over the issue. He also referred to a Sept. 30 deadline for armed groups to relinquish weapons held outside state institutions.

"The monopoly on weapons will rest solely with the state," Aboudi said.

The government has linked the policy to broader efforts to reorganize security institutions and regulate the possession and movement of firearms.

Security Media Cell chief Lt. Gen. Saad Maan recently reaffirmed that the policy was irreversible, citing National Security Council Resolution No. 21 of 2018 and Iraq's weapons legislation as part of the legal framework for regulating firearms, combating illicit arms trafficking and collecting unauthorized weapons.

Read More: Iraq Declares State Control of Weapons 'Irreversible'

Baghdad faces regional pressure

The push for tighter state control has gained importance as Iraq faces pressure over attacks launched from its territory and the risk of becoming entangled in wider regional confrontations.

Recent attacks attributed by Saudi Arabia and the United States to Iran-aligned Iraqi armed groups were followed by US-Saudi strikes against sites linked to armed groups and elements of the Popular Mobilization Forces in Iraq.

Baghdad condemned those strikes as violations of Iraqi sovereignty.

The developments have increased pressure on the Iraqi government to prevent its territory from being used for attacks against neighboring countries or foreign interests.

The dismantling of the Babil network adds to that effort, although authorities have not publicly linked the suspects to any specific armed faction.

Separate corruption arrests

Separately, former Salahaddin Governor Ahmed al-Jubouri and businessman Mohammed Hajaf were reportedly arrested in connection with corruption cases. Those arrests are unrelated to the Babil counterterrorism operation.

The Babil case, meanwhile, remains focused on the alleged drone plot and the security agencies' seizure of weapons and equipment.

The suspects and seized materials are expected to be dealt with through the relevant legal and judicial processes.