In Iraq, the government is investigating an alleged assassination plot targeting Supreme Judicial Council Chairman Faiq Zidan. Government spokesperson Haider al-Aboudi said Monday that the investigation into the alleged plan to target Zidan was ongoing.
Allegations link armed groups to drones
Iraqi media reported that unidentified armed groups had prepared a serious, operational plan to assassinate Zidan. The plan allegedly involved using drones and was also linked to efforts to bring weapons under state control and corruption investigations.
Al-Aboudi said the case concerning the collection of weapons under state control was related to Iraq’s sovereignty. The government spokesperson said there was no external pressure on the issue, adding that placing weapons under state control protected the country from serious consequences and that the government was determined to complete the conditions for sovereignty.
Recovery of 358 kilograms of gold
According to a statement issued by the Supreme Judicial Council on July 13, Faiq Zidan supervised the recovery of 358 kilograms of gold during an investigation into Adnan al-Jumaili, the detained undersecretary of the Ministry of Oil.
Jumaili was detained after being dismissed as part of an investigation into suspicions that public resources had been squandered and unlawful contracts had been concluded. In recent months, security and judicial operations have continued in Iraq over suspicions of financial and administrative corruption in public institutions.
Bringing weapons under state control
On June 3, Iraqi army spokesperson Sabah al-Numan announced that a committee had been formed to bring weapons under state control and had begun its work.
Bringing armed structures outside the state under control is among Iraq’s major security and political challenges. Some of these structures operate under the umbrella of the Popular Mobilization Forces, while some armed groups act independently.
Al-Aboudi said Iraq faced the risk of isolation because of the issue of bringing weapons under state control. The government spokesperson said the decisions taken were intended to prevent Iraqis from facing more severe consequences.
