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Several officials, including members of parliament, have been arrested in Iraq on corruption allegations, the state-run Iraqi News Agency reported Sunday, citing a senior source.
The arrests were based on "confessions" made by former Deputy Oil Minister Adnan al-Jumaili, who was arrested last month, the source said.
The source said those detained included "members of parliament whose immunity had been lifted and officials whose names appeared in those confessions."
A security source earlier told the local news outlet Al-Mada that Iraqi special security forces were deployed inside Baghdad's fortified Green Zone early Sunday and carried out a wave of arrests targeting political figures, officials, and security personnel whose names were reportedly included in files related to corruption and abuse of influence.
Iraqi security forces launched raids in Baghdad's fortified Green Zone early Sunday to arrest officials, including lawmakers suspected of corruption, amid a heavy security deployment in the area.
The Green Zone houses the U.S. Embassy and other diplomatic missions, as well as international institutions and government offices. High-ranking officials and politicians also live there.
Video footage shared on local Telegram channels showed security forces in heavy vehicles, including tanks, inside the Green Zone. One clip showed security forces inside a compound, while another appeared to show them inside a house.
Agence France-Presse (AFP) correspondents reported a heavy security deployment at the entrances to the Green Zone.
The large-scale raids, which also included other neighborhoods in Baghdad, were aimed at arresting senior Iraqi officials and politicians.
A security official told AFP on condition of anonymity that a "raid targeted several politicians over financial corruption, per judicial orders," adding that the operation involved counterterrorism forces and the military.
Iraq's state news agency quoted a senior official as saying that "several suspects accused of corruption have been arrested based on confessions made" by al-Jumaili, a former Oil Ministry official who was arrested last month.
The senior official, whose identity was not disclosed by INA, said the arrests included members of parliament whose immunity had been removed, as well as other officials.
Iraq's new prime minister, Ali al-Zaidi, has vowed to fight corruption and mismanagement that have plagued the country for decades.
In a move aimed at demonstrating commitment to fighting corruption, authorities seized more than $85 million earlier this month in a graft case against al-Jumaili, with some of the cash hidden underground.
No official government statement on the raids has been released, and INA did not provide further details or identify the officials reportedly arrested.
Another security official told AFP earlier that the raids were carried out over corruption, as well as "funding factions and the smuggling of dollars and Iranian oil," referring to Tehran-backed armed groups.
Zaidi, who recently took office with the blessing of the United States, is due to visit Washington later this month.
A diplomat in Baghdad told AFP that the security operation "is part of the Washington visit preparations" to show Zaidi's commitment to his promises.
The raids also coincided with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi's visit to Baghdad.
Zaidi has also vowed to ensure a state monopoly on weapons amid growing U.S. pressure to dismantle Tehran-backed groups, which Washington designates as terrorist organizations.
During the recent Middle East war, those groups intervened in support of Tehran and hit U.S. facilities in Iraq, including an ambush on U.S. diplomats in Baghdad.
They also struck targets in Gulf countries.
Zaidi hopes to attract more U.S. investment to Iraq, which urgently needs to revive its economy, especially after significant revenue losses caused by the halt in oil exports during the Middle East war.
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