Archive photo: Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi
Iraqi security forces launched a series of raids in Baghdad’s heavily fortified Green Zone early Sunday, arresting several politicians, lawmakers and senior government officials as part of what authorities described as an expanded anti-corruption campaign.The Green Zone, which includes Iraqi government institutions, parliament, the American embassy and other diplomatic missions, witnessed a heavy deployment of security forces, including armored vehicles and tanks, according to Agence France-Presse.Video clips circulated on local Telegram channels showed security personnel carrying out operations inside residential complexes and private homes.The agency’s correspondents also reported that security measures had been strengthened at the entrances to the Green Zone, while the raids extended to other parts of Baghdad.
Arrests linked to the corruption investigation
A security official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that the raids targeted “several politicians due to financial corruption, based on judicial orders,” adding that anti-terrorism forces and the army participated in the operation.The official Iraqi News Agency (INA) said that a number of suspects were arrested based on confessions made by former Deputy Oil Minister Adnan al-Jumaili, who was arrested last month on corruption charges.
The arrests included members of parliament whose parliamentary immunity was lifted, as well as other officials.According to the Associated Press news agency, a security agency report indicated the arrest of seven people, including five lawmakers. Some of those detained reportedly belonged to the political bloc of former Prime Minister Mohamed Shiaa Al-Sudani.The authorities did not provide public details about the specific charges against the detainees.Elite units of the Counter-Terrorism Service carried out the pre-dawn raids after Iraqi judicial authorities issued arrest warrants as part of a broader crackdown on suspected corruption networks.Security and legal sources reported by Reuters said that some suspects fled before the security forces arrived, prompting the authorities to close the Green Zone and launch an expanded search operation that is expected to continue in the coming days.
The campaign comes after Al-Zaidi pledged to fight corruption
Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi, who took office in May, has repeatedly pledged to address Iraq’s long-standing corruption problem, which has persisted despite similar promises by successive governments.Earlier this month, authorities confiscated more than $85 million in a corruption case involving Al-Jumaili, and part of the money is said to be hidden underground.Sunday’s operation followed the recent arrests of a number of senior officials, including Al-Jumaili, whose testimony allegedly indicates the involvement of a wider network of officials in corruption schemes.
The raids come before the visit to Washington
Another security official said that the investigation extends beyond financial corruption to include allegations related to the financing of armed factions and the smuggling of US dollars and Iranian oil linked to groups supported by Tehran.A diplomat in Baghdad told AFP that the operation was “part of the preparations for the visit to Washington” and aimed to show al-Zaidi’s commitment to his reform agenda ahead of his scheduled visit to the United States later this month.The raids also coincided with the visit of Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi to Baghdad.Al-Zaidi also pledged a state monopoly on weapons amid increasing US pressure to dismantle Tehran-backed armed groups that Washington classifies as terrorist organizations.During the recent conflict in the Middle East, these groups launched attacks on American facilities in Iraq and targets in the Gulf states.No official government statement regarding the raids had been issued at the time of writing this report.
