Elite units of Iraq’s Counter Terrorism Service (CTS) sealed Baghdad’s fortified Green Zone before dawn on June 28, arresting 47 officials, including 13 sitting members of parliament, in an anti-corruption sweep that grew from confessions made by former Deputy Oil Minister Adnan al-Jumaili.
Iraq’s Federal Integrity Commission confirmed the arrests in a statement, citing judicial warrants against suspects accused of misusing public funds. The commission said the operation was coordinated across Iraq’s judicial, executive, and legislative branches following extensive monitoring and investigation.
Among those detained was Muthanna al-Samarrai, leader of the Azm Alliance and one of Iraq’s most prominent Sunni politicians, along with lawmakers Alia Nassif, Ziad al-Janabi, Mohammed al-Karbouli, and Hassan al-Khafaji.
Former parliamentarian Mohammed al-Sayhoud and Deputy Oil Minister for Distribution Affairs Ali Maarej were also arrested. Forces separately raided the Midland Oil Company headquarters south of Baghdad, Asharq Al-Awsat reported.
Investigative judge Diaa Jaafar of Iraq’s Central Criminal Court for Combating Corruption said the case opened in October 2025, when the court received reports that several election candidates had spent large sums during their campaigns.
Al-Jumaili’s detention last month produced the confessions that directly implicated the legislators.
Armored vehicles and black Humvees belonging to CTS were filmed moving through the Green Zone as operations continued into the pre-dawn hours.
Reports of gunfire circulated through Baghdad, and a separate raid targeted the Adhamiyah district north of the capital. These reports have not been independently verified.
The arrests come ahead of Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi’s planned July trip to Washington, where he intends to press for U.S. investment and the disarmament of Iranian-backed militias. “Our visit to Washington is a new phase of partnership between Iraq and the United States, built on shared interests and mutual respect,” al-Zaidi said.
