Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi came into office promising to make two major changes to Iraq. The first was to disarm the pro-Iran Resistance and the second was to take on corruption within the state. The premier took a major step towards the latter in a wave of arrests across Baghdad on June 28.
The Counter Terror Service, military intelligence and the Special Division carried out a wave of arrests in the capitol detaining 67 suspects. The media provided a partial list of those involved with most coming from the Azm Alliance a major Sunni list and former PM-Sudani’s Reconstruction and Development Coalition. Many of them are parliamentarians or former lawmakers. Some of the prominent names were Muthanna al-Samarrie the head of the Azm Alliance in parliament, Deputy Oil Minister for Distribution Ali Maria al-Bahadly, the former governor of Wasit Mohammed Jamil al-Mayahi, and Mohammed al-Saihood a relative and aide to Sudani.
It was reported that the warrants came from Deputy Oil Minister for Refineries Adnan al-Jumaili who was detained at the end of May. He supposedly gave up a plethora of politicians, officials and others involved in corruption. Shafaq News said that the 67 taken in were the first and up to 200 more could be arrested soon.
This represents a major move by PM Zaidi. He is not only taking on Sunni notables but Shiites ones as well. Moqtada al-Sadr said he fully supports the premier’s move and he could gain more backing because members of the ruling Coordination Framework want revenge upon Sudani for moves he made while in office. More importantly Zaidi will use this when he goes to Washington to meet President Trump to say that he is taking real steps to change Iraq. The U.S. has demanded that Baghdad take on Iran’s financial networks which are connected to corruption throughout the country.
SOURCES
Agence France Presse, "Iraq arrests 47 officials in anti-corruption campaign," 6/28/26
Al Alam, “Red Alert in the Green Zone: Has the Time Come for a Showdown with the “Bigwigs”?” 6/28/26
Bas News, “Iraq Arrests 47 Officials in Expanding Corruption Crackdown,” 6/28/26
Al Mada, “Arrest of Deputy Oil Minister and Director of Baiji Refinery Uncovers Major Corruption Case in Salah al-Din,” 5/31/26
- “The “Old Guard” Encircles the Government … and the “Framework” Fears a Revolt by Al-Zaidi,” 5/12/26
Mahmoud, Sinan, “Who are the Iraqi politicians arrested in latest anti-corruption sweep?” The National, 6/28/26
The National Context, “Iraq Picked an Outsider to Tame Its Militias. He May End Up Strengthening the System That Created Them,” 6/24/26
Al-Samarraie, Jawad, “Initial list: Iraq arrests Azm leader Al Samarraie, deputy oil minister, and 12 MPs,” Iraqi News, 6/28/26
Shafaq News, “After 24 hours, the anti-corruption campaign in Iraq raises its tally to 67 detainees,” 6/28/26
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