FLASH
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Among those arrested is reportedly Adnan al-Jamali, the general director of the Northern Oil Company. He is suspected of approving tenders and contracts in violation of the law.
Iraqi authorities have launched a major anti-corruption operation, arresting politicians, lawmakers and heads of state institutions. The operation was ordered by Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi and is considered one of the most significant interventions in recent years in the country.
Elite forces from the Counter-Terrorism Service (CTS) raided Baghdad's Green Zone, home to key government institutions and diplomatic missions, in the early hours of Sunday. In parallel with the arrests, investigators expanded their searches to several institutions, including parliament and the oil sector.
According to legal and government sources, the case is related to an alleged corruption scheme, where the value of illegal transactions and embezzlement could reach up to $50 billion. If this amount is confirmed, the operation would be the largest of its kind in Iraq since 2003.
Among those arrested is reportedly Adnan al-Jamali, the general director of the Northern Oil Company. He is suspected of approving tenders and contracts in violation of the law. Meanwhile, several other people involved in the investigation were not found in their homes, which led to the expansion of checks and the blocking of entrances to the Green Zone.
The timing of the operation has drawn attention for another reason: Parliament is in recess, so MPs cannot rely on parliamentary immunity during the proceedings.
The action has sparked reactions on the political scene, as those under investigation include figures considered opponents of the prime minister, mainly from the Sunni community. For this reason, the debate has focused on the question of whether it is simply a fight against corruption or a political clash.
Ali al-Zaidi's government presents this campaign as the main effort to crack down on abuses of public funds and the system of illegal contracts that, according to its supporters, have damaged the Iraqi economy for more than two decades.
Analysts, on the other hand, recall that similar operations in the past have been accompanied by political and religious tensions. They estimate that the progress of the investigations and the manner in which justice is administered will determine whether this initiative will strengthen institutions or deepen clashes on the political scene.
Ali al-Zaidi took office in May and has placed the fight against corruption at the center of his governing program. He has also stated that he aims to strengthen the state's sovereignty, expand cooperation with Western and regional partners, and limit the influence of armed groups outside state structures.
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