Iraq Prime Minister Ali al‑Zainati orders anti‑corruption arrests in Baghdad’s Green Zone

Iraqi security forces carried out a coordinated operation in the fortified Green Zone of Baghdad early on Sunday, detaining a number of parliamentarians, senior government officials and members of the security apparatus. The raids, conducted by the Counter‑Terrorism Service and special‑forces units equipped with humvees and tanks, followed court‑issued arrest warrants issued after Prime Minister Ali al‑Zainati ordered a wide‑scale anti‑corruption drive.

The operation, ordered by al‑Zainati since taking office in May, also saw the sealing of several entry points to the Green Zone. While some suspects managed to flee before being captured, authorities have begun an extensive investigation that is expected to continue in the coming days. No official statement confirming the arrests has been released, and the names and exact charges of those detained have not been disclosed. Earlier in May, the deputy oil minister was apprehended on similar corruption allegations, underscoring the new government’s focus on rooting out graft.