ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – Iraq’s judiciary on Wednesday ordered the country’s courts to begin applying the anti-terrorism law to individuals manufacturing or owning drones for ulterior motives.

“The Supreme Judicial Council has directed the relevant courts to apply the provisions of Anti-Terrorism Law No. (13) of 2005 to anyone who manufactures, uses, or possesses drones used for purposes contrary to the law,” the council said in a statement.

The Anti-Terrorism Law No. 13 of 2005 was enacted during the insurgency that followed the US-led invasion of Iraq and carries severe penalties, including the death penalty for those convicted of conducting, financing, facilitating, or assisting terrorist attacks.

The judiciary’s decision comes after a surge in drone attacks. Drones in Iraq have been increasingly used in recent years by a myriad of groups, most notably pro-Iran armed groups operating in federal Iraq.

The strikes have targeted a wide spectrum of interests, including American installations, embassies, as well as vital civilian and economic infrastructure in the Kurdistan Region.

Such attacks especially escalated during the 12-day war between Israel and Iran in June of last year, and most recently, the US-Israeli war on Iran that began in February. During those periods, pro-Iran militia groups carried out daily drone and rocket strikes against US bases, the Baghdad embassy, and Erbil consulate general, and infrastructure in the Kurdistan Region.

Kurdish officials have repeatedly called on Baghdad to identify and prosecute those responsible for the attacks.

The judiciary decision also comes amid a wider US-backed Iraqi government initiative to disarm pro-Iran armed groups in Iraq, with Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi scrambling to quicken efforts to restrict weapons and rein in armed groups.