Iraq security forces arrest several officials in anticorruption crackdown

Elite security personnel carry out a large-scale operation at dawn in the Green Zone and several neighbourhoods in Baghdad, security source says.

Iraqi security forces have arrested dozens of prominent politicians, lawmakers and officials in sweeping raids across Baghdad as part of an unprecedented anticorruption crackdown ordered by new Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi.

Security forces, including units from the elite Counter-Terrorism Service, raided homes in the heavily fortified Green Zone area and several other neighbourhoods, security sources said.

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Iraqi state news agency INA said 47 people had been detained, including Ali Maarej, deputy oil minister for distribution affairs.

Muthanna al-Samarrai, the leader of the Al-Azm Alliance, was also among those detained, along with his office manager, a member of his Sunni parliamentary bloc told Al Jazeera.

AP reported that some members of the mainly Shia parliamentary Reconstruction and Development Coalition were also targeted in the raids.

INA said arrested lawmakers had their parliamentary immunity lifted ahead of being detained. A parliamentary source told Al Jazeera this was done with the approval of Speaker Haybat al-Halbousi. Under Iraqi law, the speaker has the authority to take such measures while parliament is on legislative leave.

Iraq’s Federal Commission of Integrity said it had launched “decisive measures to execute judicial arrest warrants issued against a number of individuals accused of misappropriating public funds”.

It said “all of the actions taken are being carried out with precision, in full accordance with the law and under its authority”.

Sources said the arrests were based on confessions by Adnan al-Jumaili, a deputy oil minister who was arrested last month on corruption charges.

Authorities have seized about $86m in cash this month, allegedly as part of the corruption case against al-Jumaili.

Since becoming prime minister in May, al-Zaidi has pledged to fight the corruption and mismanagement that have plagued Iraq for decades.

Anticorruption activists have complained that Iraq’s political structure is built around graft, with parties and politicians using their patronage networks and powers to plunder state resources.

In a message to al-Zaidi and judges, former prime minister and head of the State of Law parliamentary bloc Nouri al-Maliki wrote on X: “We congratulate you on launching the operation to pursue those who have squandered the Iraqi people’s wealth. We reaffirm our full support for you and your efforts to uphold justice and hold accountable everyone who has betrayed the public trust. Carry this mission through to its conclusion. It is a long-awaited step that the Iraqi people have been hoping for.”