BAGHDAD: Several Iraqi politicians, including members of parliament and senior officials, have been arrested on corruption charges in a large-scale security operation in the capital, Iraqi state-run media reported on Sunday.
The Iraqi News Agency said the arrests took place early Sunday in Baghdad, including in the heavily fortified International Zone (Green Zone) and other areas of the city. The report, quoting a security source, said some of those detained were lawmakers whose parliamentary immunity had been lifted, as well as officials named in confessional statements.
Authorities have not yet issued an official list of those arrested, and it remains unclear how many individuals are in custody.
A security source told Al Jazeera that elite Counter Terrorism Service units carried out the operation based on testimony provided by Adnan al-Jumaili, Iraq’s deputy oil minister, who was arrested last month on corruption allegations.
The source added that the arrests followed an expanding investigation into a wider corruption network, including financial transactions linked to the case. Authorities recently seized around $86 million in cash allegedly connected to the probe.
The Associated Press, citing a security agency report, said seven people were arrested, including five members of parliament. Some of those detained were reportedly linked to the political bloc of former Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani.
The crackdown comes as Iraq’s leadership continues efforts to address long-standing corruption and governance challenges. Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi has pledged to intensify anti-corruption measures since taking office.
No official confirmation has been issued by the Iraqi government or security forces regarding the identities of those arrested.