Get you up to speed: Iraq security forces arrest several officials in anticorruption crackdown
Several Iraqi politicians, lawmakers, and officials were arrested on corruption charges during a large-scale operation carried out by elite Iraqi security forces in Baghdad’s Green Zone and surrounding neighbourhoods. The arrests were based on statements from Adnan al-Jumaili, the deputy oil minister, and included five members of parliament, with no immediate official statement provided by the Iraqi government.
The arrests were executed by the Counter Terrorism Service based on testimonies given by Adnan al-Jumaili, the recently detained deputy oil minister. Authorities reported seizing approximately $86 million in cash linked to the corruption allegations against al-Jumaili earlier this month.
Iraq’s new Prime Minister, Ali al-Zaidi, has reiterated his commitment to combat corruption, underscoring a wider governmental effort following the recent arrests of several officials, including members of parliament, related to ongoing investigations. Meanwhile, authorities have confiscated approximately $86 million linked to corruption allegations against former deputy oil minister Adnan al-Jumaili, indicating further measures are likely in the government’s anti-corruption campaign.
What remains unclear — The identity of the individuals arrested during the operation has not been disclosed by authorities.
Iraq security forces arrest multiple officials in anticorruption operation
News|CorruptionIraq 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.
Published On 28 Jun 202628 Jun 2026
Several Iraqi politicians, lawmakers and officials have been arrested on corruption charges, Iraqi state-run media report.
Several people, including members of parliament “whose immunity had been lifted and officials whose names appeared in … confessions”, were arrested early on Sunday in the capital, Baghdad, the Iraqi News Agency reported, quoting a security source.
It was not immediately clear who had been arrested. There was no immediate official statement on the arrests from the Iraqi government or security forces.
A security source told WTX News that elite Iraqi security forces carried out a large-scale arrest operation at dawn in the fortified International Zone (Green Zone) and several neighbourhoods in Baghdad.
The source said the arrests were carried out by the Counter Terrorism Service and were based on statements provided by Adnan al-Jumaili, deputy oil minister, after his arrest last month on corruption charges.
Iraq’s new prime minister, Ali al-Zaidi, has pledged to fight corruption and mismanagement that have plagued Iraq for decades.
Authorities seized about $86m in cash this month that was allegedly part of the corruption case against al-Jumaili.
The Associated Press news agency reported that seven people were arrested on Sunday, including five members of parliament. It cited a security agency report it obtained. The AP said some of those arrested were from the political bloc of former Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani.
During November’s parliamentary elections, al-Sudani’s bloc won the largest share of seats, but he did not return as prime minister. He stepped aside amid a deadlock in the Coordination Framework, a group of Shia parties allied with Iran that brought al-Sudani to power. They disagreed for months over their preferred candidate for the post.