Iraq Uncovers Billions in Corruption in Sweeping Arrests of Former Officials
Iraq is undergoing a major crackdown on corruption with a series of unprecedented arrests targeting senior political figures linked to the previous government. The operation, dubbed "Operation Dawn," was ordered by newly appointed Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi and involved elite counterterrorism forces raiding the fortified Green Zone in Baghdad. Authorities uncovered vast amounts of cash and gold hidden deep underground in the homes of prominent Iraqi officials.
Among the most notable seizures was at the residence of parliament member Hind Al-Abbasi, where $57 million in cash and 27 kilograms of pure gold were found. Another key arrest was Aliya Nassif, a veteran politician accused of acting as an agent for Iran’s regime in Iraq. Her home yielded over 20 billion Iraqi dinars and large quantities of gold. Additional raids uncovered assets worth over $85 million linked to corruption networks within the Ministry of Oil.
The crackdown has led to the detention of approximately 47 suspects, including 12 sitting members of parliament whose immunity was revoked. Many detainees are connected to former Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani and the Sunni coalition "Azem." High-profile figures arrested include Ali Al-Bahadli, former Deputy Oil Minister for Distribution, accused by the U.S. of smuggling Iranian oil and funding militias, and Amal Marai, a Salah al-Din provincial council member.
Israeli researcher Elizabet Tsurkov, who spent over two years captive by pro-Iranian militias in Iraq, described the campaign as "selective enforcement." She noted that while many Sunni officials close to Al-Sudani are targeted, major corruption centers linked to former Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki and Iran-backed militias remain untouched. Tsurkov views the arrests as a political move by the government to demonstrate anti-corruption efforts amid economic crisis and currency collapse, while weakening political rivals.
The operation continues with security forces raiding homes of other prominent figures, including former Wasit governor and current parliament member Mohammed Jamil. The unfolding events reveal deep-rooted corruption and intense power struggles within Iraq’s political landscape.
