Quoting Iraqi officials, NY Times reported that such an action required formal approval from the Iraqi government… However, such approval may be untenable given the political tensions between the two countries.”

The Iraqi authorities have expressed their outrage at the United States for operating a fleet of surveillance drones under the pretext that they help protect the US Embassy and consulates, as well as American personnel, New York Times stated.

In a report it published Sunday, the US daily pointed out that some senior Iraq officials have expressed their outrage, considering that the aircraft are a violation to Iraq’s sovereignty, knowing that they carry no weapons and are meant to provide data and images of possible hazards, like public protests or roadblocks, to security personnel on the ground.

It also indicated that “these drones are the latest example of the State Department’s efforts to take over functions in Iraq that the military used to perform. Some 5,000 private security contractors now protect the embassy’s 11,000-person staff, for example, and typically drive around in heavily armored military vehicles.”

Quoting Iraqi officials, NY Times further reported that such an action required formal approval from the Iraqi government… However, such approval may be untenable given the political tensions between the two countries.”