Iraqi security forces detained more than 35 politicians, lawmakers and senior officials as part of a large-scale anti-corruption operation launched following the confessions of former Deputy Oil Minister Adnan al-Jumeili.
During dawn raids on Baghdad's Green Zone on Sunday, the Counter-Terrorism Service and army units accompanied by M1 Abrams tanks carried out simultaneous operations on multiple addresses, including the Baghdad Residential Complex. Roads leading to the area were closed to traffic, and heavily armed security forces were deployed in the vicinity.
The basis for the operation was the statements given by former Deputy Oil Minister Adnan al-Jumeili, who was captured on May 30, 2026 in Salahuddin province with approximately $11 million in cash. Al-Jumeili had been removed from his position as Director General of the Northern Refineries Company shortly before his detention.
According to information obtained from judicial sources, those detained include special-grade officials, lawmakers, governors and the head of a political bloc. It was stated that some suspects were apprehended in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and other provinces, and that the number of detentions may increase.
The Federal Commission on Combating Corruption announced that arrest warrants issued for individuals accused of violations against public property are being meticulously executed and all procedures are being carried out within the legal framework. It was learned that Prime Minister Ali al-Zeidi is personally overseeing the operation, while Parliament Speaker Mohammed al-Halbusi lifted the immunity of the detained lawmakers simultaneously with the legislative recess.
Security measures at Baghdad International Airport were also raised to the highest level alongside the operation. Airport workers reported that passenger checks have been tightened to prevent wanted individuals from fleeing abroad.
Iraqi parliament member Basim al-Gharabi welcomed the steps taken in the fight against corruption, saying, "The success of this campaign will be measured not by the number of people arrested, but by adherence to the rule of law and its continuation to cover all those responsible, regardless of political affiliation." Al-Gharabi added that the public will closely follow the process and trusts the independence of the judiciary.
Political researcher Talib al-Ahmed argued that if the operation continues with the same determination, the corruption networks built up over the years will collapse "like dominoes." Ahmed emphasized that Prime Minister al-Zeidi's approach to corruption files represents an unprecedented transformation since 2003 and that no "red lines" have been drawn so far. Also highlighting the importance of international cooperation, Ahmed stated that some corruption networks receive support from abroad and that cross-border coordination is needed to recover stolen funds.
The operation represents a new test following anti-corruption investigations in Iraq that were previously launched but yielded no concrete results. All eyes will be on whether the arrests will translate into uninterrupted judicial decisions and compensation for public losses.
