Iraqi authorities have detained 67 officials, lawmakers and businessmen in what officials describe as the first phase of one of the country’s largest anti-corruption operations in years.
The coordinated raids, carried out in Baghdad and several provinces under the supervision of Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi, began before dawn on Sunday. Security and judicial sources said the campaign could expand to include more than 200 senior officials during its initial stages.
Among those detained are senior politicians, members of parliament, government officials and business figures. The Iraqi state news agency identified Muthanna al-Samarrai, head of the Al-Azm Alliance, as one of the most prominent figures arrested, alongside several current and former lawmakers, senior civil servants and a deputy oil minister.
Security forces imposed strict measures around Baghdad’s Green Zone during the operation while raids were also conducted in districts across the capital and in Babil, Maysan, Anbar and Erbil. Officials said the arrests were carried out without clashes or security incidents, and those detained have been transferred to the Federal Integrity Commission for investigation.
Authorities said the investigations were supported by evidence gathered during previous corruption cases, with additional suspects expected to be identified as inquiries continue. Travel bans have also been imposed on several politicians and businessmen while investigations remain underway.
Al-Zaidi described the campaign as part of a broader effort to recover public funds, strengthen oversight and reinforce accountability across state institutions. Government officials said the operation forms a key pillar of the administration’s anti-corruption strategy and will continue in the coming months.
The campaign has received backing from political parties across Iraq, including the State of Law Coalition, the Patriotic Shiite Movement led by Muqtada al-Sadr, the Reconstruction and Development Coalition, and the Kurdistan Democratic Party’s parliamentary bloc. Iraq’s Bar Association also welcomed the move while stressing the importance of legal procedures and due process.
Supporters say the operation marks a significant shift by targeting senior political figures, while the Al-Azm Alliance defended its leader and called for judicial proceedings to be conducted fairly and in line with constitutional guarantees.
The crackdown comes as Iraq continues efforts to tackle long-standing corruption. The country ranked 136th out of 182 countries in the 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index, with authorities estimating that corruption and financial mismanagement have cost the state hundreds of billions of dollars over the past two decades.
Officials said the campaign is expected to continue over the coming months, with further investigations, asset recovery efforts and legal action against additional suspects inside and outside Iraq.
