Iraqi authorities have arrested 47 individuals, including members of parliament and senior officials, on charges of corruption and misappropriation of public funds, acting on judicial warrants as part of an ongoing nationwide anti-corruption campaign.
The arrests were carried out under judicial supervision and are being linked to broader efforts led by Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi, ahead of his expected visit to Washington in mid-July, his first foreign trip since taking office last May.
The visit is expected to highlight his government’s commitments to combating corruption and addressing sensitive security issues, including arms control among Iran-linked groups, amid continued U.S. pressure on Baghdad.
According to the Iraqi News Agency (INA), high-level sources confirmed that those arrested include 13 members of parliament whose immunity was lifted, with officials stating that operations are continuing across Baghdad and several provinces.
Security operations reportedly began with raids in Baghdad’s heavily fortified Green Zone, targeting homes and offices of politicians.
The area, which hosts top government institutions and foreign diplomatic missions, including the U.S. embassy, saw significant security deployments, with reports of heavy vehicles and armored units being used during the operations.
Security sources cited by international media said the raids also involve investigations into alleged financing of Iran-aligned factions, oil smuggling, dollar trafficking, and corruption networks. Areas affected by arrests include multiple districts in Baghdad as well as provinces such as Maysan, Babylon, Diyala, and Salah al-Din.
Among those named in the investigation are several prominent lawmakers, including Muthanna al-Samarrai, Ziyad al-Janabi, Bahaa al-Nouri, Muhammad al-Karbouli, Muhammad Jamil, Hassan al-Khafaji, Abdul Rahman al-Luwaizi, Mudhar al-Karawi, Muhammad Farman, and Muhammad al-Sayhoud, along with MPs Alia Nassif, Hind Al-Abbasi, and Bushra Al-Qaisi.
Officials also include Deputy Minister of Oil for Distribution Affairs Ali Ma’araj and former adviser to the Prime Minister Ibrahim Al-Sumaidaie.
Authorities said earlier that the investigation was triggered by confessions from a senior oil ministry official arrested in a related case involving tens of millions of dollars in alleged corruption.
They added that the operation reflects coordinated work between Iraq’s judicial, executive, and legislative branches, supported by continuous monitoring and audits by oversight bodies.
Officials stressed that the campaign is still in its early stages, with further arrests expected as investigations expand across multiple sectors and regions.
