Iraqi security forces have arrested dozens of lawmakers, politicians, and senior government officials in a sweeping anti-corruption operation ordered by Prime Minister Ali Al Zaidi. The raids, carried out in the early hours of Sunday, June 28, targeted homes inside Baghdad’s heavily fortified Green Zone as well as locations in other provinces.
According to Iraq’s state-run news agency, 47 people were detained, including current legislators, former politicians, business figures, and serving government officials. The operation was conducted by Iraq’s elite Counter Terrorism Service after judicial authorities reportedly issued arrest warrants linked to corruption investigations.
The arrests mark one of the most visible anti-corruption moves in Iraq in recent years. Such operations against senior political figures are considered rare in the country, where corruption has long been seen as one of the biggest challenges facing public institutions.
Among those detained is Muthana Al Samarrai, leader of the Azm Alliance in the Iraqi parliament. Azm is a Sunni political coalition that emerged in 2021 after divisions deepened among rival Sunni leaders. The bloc currently holds 15 seats in parliament.
Other Sunni figures reportedly arrested include Mohammed Al Karbooli, a businessman-turned-politician from the Azm Alliance, as well as Ziyad Al Janabi and Mudhar Al Karawi, who are linked to the Siyada Coalition led by Sunni businessman Khamis Al Khanjar. Hind Al Abbasi and Mohammed Farmad Al Jabouri, both associated with Azm, were also named among the detainees.
The list also includes Bushra Al Qaisi, a Sunni politician, and several Shiite political figures close to former Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al Sudani’s Reconstruction and Development Coalition. Among them are Bahaa Al Nouri, Alia Nassif, and Hassan Al Khafaji, a businessman-turned-politician.
Mohammed Jameel Al Mayahi, a former governor of Wasit province, was also reportedly detained, along with Abdul Rahman Al Luwaizi, a Sunni politician linked to Mr Al Sudani’s party. Mohammed Al Sayhood, described as a relative and close aide of the former prime minister, was also named among those arrested.
The operation also reached figures connected to Iraq’s oil sector. Ali Maarij Al Bahadly, Iraq’s deputy oil minister for distribution affairs, was reportedly among those detained. In May 2026, the US Treasury Department placed Al Bahadly under sanctions, accusing him of using his position to help divert Iraqi oil and facilitate schemes linked to Iranian oil exports. Iraq’s Oil Ministry denied the allegations at the time.
Ibrahim Al Sumaidaie, an adviser to former Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al Sudani, was also named among the detained figures.
The arrests are seen as a major test for Prime Minister Ali Al Zaidi, who took office in May 2026 and has promised to confront entrenched corruption inside state institutions. Government officials have described the campaign as part of a broader effort to protect public funds and restore confidence in Iraq’s political system.
However, the crackdown is also likely to create political tension, given that several detainees are connected to influential Sunni and Shiite blocs. Iraq’s political landscape is deeply fragmented, and corruption investigations often intersect with rivalries between powerful parties and business networks.
For now, the detained officials have not been convicted, and the exact charges against each individual have not been fully detailed publicly. Iraqi authorities say investigations are continuing, while security sources suggest that more arrests could follow in the coming days.
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