Iraq detains politicians, officials in anti-corruption crackdown

Iraqi security forces arrested politicians and senior officials early on Sunday as part of a broader anti-corruption campaign ordered by Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi, a ​government spokesperson said, Reuters reported. Elite Counter Terrorism Service units raided homes inside Baghdad’s heavily fortified ‌Green Zone in overnight operations, detaining multiple suspects, legal and security sources said. Iraq News Agency (INA), citing a senior official, said 47 suspects were detained, including members of parliament and government officials. Zaidi, who took office ​in May, has pledged to tackle entrenched corruption, which remains one of Iraq’s ​most persistent challenges despite repeated promises by successive governments to hold officials accountable. Sunday’s ⁠operation was launched on his direct orders after judicial authorities issued arrest warrants targeting what […]