Kurdistan Region bans media from filming drones, military sites

ERBIL, Iraq — The Kurdistan Regional Government’s Directorate of Press and Information has issued a directive prohibiting media outlets and journalists from filming unmanned aerial vehicles in the sky, capturing footage of drones being shot down, or photographing drone wreckage. The directive also fully bans disclosing the locations of military and security facilities. The regional government said media organizations that fail to comply will be logged for violations and face applicable sanctions. Officials added that in the event of an extraordinary incident causing casualties, the government will provide the media with the necessary information and facilitate on-site reporting. Security sources said six drones that targeted the U.S. consulate building near Erbil International Airport had previously been intercepted, with a fragment from one of the downed drones striking a taxi. No further details were immediately available on the latest directive or its enforcement timeline.