Iraq uses drones to protect oil infrastructure and strengthen the country’s energy security. The Energy Police have started deploying drone technology to monitor oil fields, pipelines, and facilities across the nation. This new step improves surveillance and helps stop illegal activities that harm Iraq’s energy sector.
According to the Director of the Energy Police, Dhafer al-Husseini, Iraq uses drones to protect oil infrastructure as part of broader efforts to combat oil and fuel smuggling. However, the technology allows security forces to cover vast areas, especially remote regions that are difficult to patrol on the ground. The drones also give real-time images and data, helping officers respond faster to suspicious activity.
Iraq’s Energy Police continue to guard oil facilities and transportation routes around the clock. Their goal is to prevent theft, sabotage, and environmental damage caused by smuggling. Recently, authorities arrested 69 people involved in oil-related crimes and confiscated 45 tankers and vehicles used in smuggling. Iraq uses drones to protect oil infrastructure and improve efficiency in catching criminals and securing vital resources.
Moreover, drone surveillance enhances safety at key sites such as pipelines, refineries, and storage centers. As well as, many of these areas are large and located far from cities, making them harder to monitor. In addition, the new system helps officers watch these locations from the air and react quickly to any threat. This innovation marks a major change in Iraq’s approach to safeguarding its energy assets.
Security forces also raided several smuggling sites in Anbar and Salah al-Din provinces, seizing nearly 1.7 million liters of fuel. The recovered fuel was moved to government control to prevent further losses. These operations show that Iraq takes strong action to protect its oil wealth and ensure that national resources benefit the people, not criminal groups.
Oil smuggling has long been a serious challenge for Iraq. It causes large financial losses and harms the environment. With drone technology, the Energy Police can better track illegal movement and reduce such crimes. This improvement supports the government’s larger plan to modernize security systems and build stronger control over the energy sector.
By adopting drones, Iraq takes a major step toward safer, smarter, and more sustainable energy management. The combination of technology and strict law enforcement promises to create a more secure future for the country’s vital oil industry.