“Part One” ends with the arrest of 43 defendants… Details of the largest anti-corruption campaign in Iraq
“Part One” ends with the arrest of 43 defendants… Details of the largest anti-corruption campaign in Iraq
2026-06-28
Shafaq News – Baghdad
An informed source revealed on Sunday details of the largest anti-corruption operation in the country, which has so far resulted in the arrest of 43 officials and politicians, and is to be completed in a second phase and will target “first-class” figures.
The source told Shafaq News Agency that “the operation that was launched is considered the first part, and the total number of detainees in it reached 43 people, some of whom have been released.”
He added that the detainees included employees, general managers, politicians, businessmen and members of parliament, and that the operation was carried out under the direct supervision of the Prime Minister.
He explained, “The agencies participating in the operation are the Counter-Terrorism Service and the Special Forces,” indicating that “the operation included several areas in Baghdad, including Sadr City, Al-Shaab, Zayouna, Al-Yarmouk, and the Al-Qadisiyah residential complex, as well as the governorates of Babylon, Maysan, and Erbil.”
He continued: “The Central Oil Company was also raided, and so far there is no specific number of detainees,” noting that “all detainees were handed over to the Integrity Commission and are being directly followed up by the Prime Minister and the President of the Supreme Judicial Council.”
He confirmed that “there will be a second operation following this campaign, and it will target political figures, members of parliament, directors-general, and top-tier businessmen.”
He noted that “the current operation is still ongoing, during which large sums of money were seized in the homes and offices of the detainees, and these will be announced after the final accounts are completed.”
Regarding the security measures, the source indicated that “the operation did not involve any security breaches, clashes, or resistance from those arrested, nor even an exchange of fire, and that the movement of armored vehicles was only for the purpose of closing the entrances to the Green Zone in anticipation of any emergency.”
Early Sunday morning, security forces in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, launched a large-scale raid and search campaign targeting the homes of members of parliament, politicians, and businessmen.
A security source told Shafaq News Agency at the time that the Counter-Terrorism Service forces had set up intensive checkpoints inside the area, subjecting those leaving to strict vetting procedures, stressing that the only exception available to leave the government square was allocated to holders of exam cards.
The source added that the special unit arrested more than eight people at dawn today, including members of the House of Representatives, based on judicial arrest warrants related to financial and administrative corruption cases, noting at the same time that a force from the Counter-Terrorism Service had entered the “Al-Shaab” area north of the capital to carry out similar arrest warrants.
According to the source, the arrest campaign was not limited to the Green Zone and Al-Shaab, but included a number of areas, including Yarmouk, Zayouna and Al-Mansour. He pointed out that a security force entered the Central Oil Company because of information that there were people involved in financial corruption, and a travel ban was issued against a number of politicians and businessmen until the operation and investigations are completed.
shafaq.com
