Iraq says it has dismantled a network that was planning drone attacks against unspecified targets, in a move that comes amid growing regional concerns over attacks allegedly launched from Iraqi territory. <\/p>\n
Government spokesman Haider al-Abboudi said a joint operation involving Iraq\u2019s counterterrorism and national intelligence services infiltrated the network and raided locations linked to its members, Al Jazeera<\/a> reported.<\/p>\n The operation resulted in the arrest of members of the network and the seizure of equipment, including drones, according to a government statement.<\/p>\n Al-Abboudi said the group had been planning to carry out attacks using unmanned aerial vehicles against specific targets, but that the plan was thwarted before the attacks could take place.<\/p>\n The government did not disclose the identities of those arrested or identify the intended targets.<\/p>\n The announcement comes after Iraq\u2019s regional government in the north and several Gulf countries recently reported drone attacks that they have attributed to Iran<\/a>-aligned armed groups operating from Iraq.<\/p>\n Iraq has sought to distance itself from such attacks and has pledged to prevent its territory from being used to threaten neighboring countries.<\/p>\n Sabah al-Nu\u2019man, spokesman for the commander-in-chief of Iraq\u2019s armed forces, said Friday that Baghdad would not allow Iraqi territory to be used as a platform for threatening neighboring states.<\/p>\n The latest operation signals an effort by Iraqi authorities to crack down on suspected drone networks as Baghdad faces increasing pressure to prevent armed groups from using the country as a launchpad for attacks across the region.<\/p>\n