US drone operations anger Iraqis

Washington's unauthorized surveillance drone operations in Iraq have prompted outrage among senior Iraqi officials and the public.

Iraqis say the US must respect the country's sovereignty and consult with the Baghdad government before carrying out any operation now that “the war is over.”‌

But Iraqi officials say they have never been consulted by the US about the drone operations and that despite the official US withdrawal from Iraq, it maintains a strong presence in the country.

According to The New York Times, the State Department began operating some drones in Iraq last year on a trial basis to help protect the US Embassy, consulates and American personnel and that stepped up their use after the last US troops left the country in December.

The daily said that since getting the approval for using surveillance drone aircraft over Iraq might be hard given the political tensions between the two countries, the US continues drone operations in the country without formal approval from Iraq.

It added that Washington plans to take bids for the management of drone operations in Iraq over the next five years.

Source: presstv.ir