At least some of the corruption is connection to the Mullahcracy of Iran. Day 1 can be seen here. Day 2 can be seen here.
Iraq arrests over 20 in anti-corruption drive, sets arms surrender deadline[Rudaw] The Iraqi government has arrested more than 20 suspects, including bigwigs and politicians, as part of a large-scale anti-corruption campaign launched over the weekend, the Baghdad government’s spokesperson said Monday. Haider al-Aboudi also noted that Iraq has set a late September deadline for Iran-aligned gangs to hand over their weapons to the state, in line with a pledge made earlier this year by the prime minister.
"Operation Dawn saw the arrest of 21 suspects, while others are still being pursued," Aboudi was quoted by the state-run Iraqi News Agency (INA) as saying, adding that "the operation will not stop" and that "the confessions made by the suspects are leading to other networks involving names and financial assets."
The anti-corruption campaign "is different from previous ones, and protecting public funds is a responsibility that is not affected by individuals or circumstances," the senior government official added, underscoring Baghdad’s "commitment to safeguarding public funds" and its "comprehensive vision in managing challenges, institutional reform, and combating corruption."
The remarks come as Iraqi authorities continue to make headway with Operation Dawn, a large-scale anti-corruption campaign that was launched on Sunday under the direction of Prime Minister Zaidi in coordination with Iraq's Federal Commission of Integrity. The operation has so far resulted in the detention of tens of suspects including politicians, former officials, and senior
Moreover, Aboudi said on Monday that Baghdad has "set September 21 as the final deadline for the surrender of weapons, coinciding with the departure of the forces of the [US-led] Global Coalition [to Defeat the Islamic State
...formerly ISIS or ISIL, depending on your preference. Before that they were al-Qaeda in Iraq, as shaped by Abu Musab Zarqawi. They're really very devout, committing every atrocity they can find in the Koran and inventing a few more. They fling Allaharound with every other sentence, but to hear western pols talk they're not
reallyMoslems....
]."
In his inaugural address to the Iraqi parliament in mid-May, the newly appointed premier pledged to pursue security reforms, including by "confining weapons under state control." Zaidi also vowed to enhance the capabilities of the security forces and strengthen citizens’ "confidence in democracy."
Earlier this month, he ordered the formation of a committee to oversee the implementation of measures aimed at disengaging political parties and armed factions from the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), amid a wider effort to bring paramilitary groups and their arms under state control.
However,
a clean conscience makes a soft pillow...
Iraqi gangs aligned with Iran
...a theocratic Shiite state divided among the Medes, the Persians, and the (Arab) Elamites. Formerly a fairly civilized nation ruled by a Shah, it became a victim of Islamic revolution in 1979. The nation is today noted for
spontaneouslytaking over other countries' embassies, maintaining whorehouses run by clergymen, involvement in international drug trafficking, and financing sock puppet
militiasto extend the regime's influence. The word
Iranis a cognate form of
Aryan.The abbreviation
IRGCis the same idea as
Stürmabteilung (or SA).The term
Supreme Guideis a the modern version form of either
Duceor
Führeror maybe both. They hate
have since been sharply divided over the government initiative with some expressing willingness to surrender their arms, while others firmly reject the proposal and linking it to the presence of foreign forces in the country.
Iraqi PM orders recovery fund as anti-corruption crackdown widens
[Rudaw] Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi on Monday ordered the establishment of a recovery fund to collect and hold public assets recovered from corrupt officials.
The move is part of an expanded anti-corruption campaign, dubbed Operation Dawn, launched over the weekend that has so far led to the arrest of 21 suspects, including senior officials and politicians.
Munir Haddad, a prominent Iraqi judge and legal advisor to Prime Minister Zaidi, told Rudaw's Ziyad Ismail that “those accused of stealing public funds and looting Iraq's wealth are being prosecuted under the Iraqi Penal Code, including the Anti-Money Laundering Law and laws governing crimes against public property.”
He pledged that “neither the judiciary nor the government will stop at recovering the stolen funds,” emphasizing that the Baghdad government remains “committed to fighting corruption and holding the corrupt to account.”
“No one will be spared, regardless of their position or status,” he said.
Since Operation Dawn began on Sunday, some $75 million in cash has reportedly been seized, along with at least 40 luxury properties, land tracts, and large weapons caches across the country.
Iraqi government spokesperson Haider al-Aboudi said on Monday that the anti-corruption campaign “will not stop” and that “the confessions made by the suspects are leading to other networks involving names and financial assets.”
The campaign “is different from previous ones,” the senior government official said, underscoring Baghdad's “commitment to safeguarding public funds” and its “comprehensive vision in managing challenges, institutional reform, and combating corruption.”
Sadr backs Iraq's anti-corruption crackdown, urges supporters to rally Friday
[Rudaw] Influential Iraqi Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr on Monday voiced support for Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi’s anti-corruption crackdown, describing it as a “heroic reformist campaign,” and called on his supporters to take to the streets on Friday in backing the initiative.
“That campaign, which has restored hope in our hearts and the hearts of the Iraqi people after the corrupt dominated its resources,” Sadr posted on X, praising “the role of the Iraqi judiciary and the heroic security forces, especially the anti-terrorism and corruption forces.”
The endorsement follows the first-of-its-kind anti-corruption campaign led by Zaidi in coordination with Iraq’s Commission of Integrity, which has resulted in the detention of 47 suspects - including lawmakers, former officials, and senior government employees - since it began early on Sunday.
Sadr further called for Friday prayer imams to organize peaceful demonstrations next Friday to support the crackdown. He requested that participants display only Iraqi flags and banners honoring Imam Hussein, Prophet Mohammed’s grandson, during the events, which coincides with the month of Muharram.
Speaking during a cabinet session on Sunday, Zaidi said the operation marks only the beginning of a wider effort, noting that "Iraq will begin a new chapter."
“This offensive is merely a first strike; the issue of corruption is not over. We are continuing to fight it," Zaidi told the ministers, adding: "for anyone in possession of public funds, we want that money returned to its rightful owners; the people's money must return to the people.”
“I cannot remain silent about any wrongdoing. I will not compromise on the interests of the Iraqi people, and this government will be a distinguished one, God willing," he said.
“Regarding anyone whose mind is set on working for the state while stealing the money of orphans and the poor: they are mistaken. I tell them, do not stay; I will pursue them day and night.”
KDP supports Zaidi’s anti-corruption raids, calls for nationwide scope
[Rudaw] The Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) has declared its full backing for the Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi’s anti-corruption campaign that began on Sunday, while urging that the operations be expanded beyond Baghdad to all provinces across Iraq.
In a statement late Sunday, the bloc said it welcomes the measures taken by Zaidi and the judiciary in targeting corruption and arresting suspects, saying: "We hope that this campaign will not be confined to Baghdad alone, but will be expanded to all Iraqi provinces and cities."
"We reaffirm our full readiness to provide every possible form of cooperation and support... for taking legal action against every individual involved in corruption, without discrimination or exception," the statement added.
The statement comes as Iraqi authorities launched a sweeping anti-corruption operation early Sunday that led to dozens of arrests across the country.
The campaign, coordinated with Iraq’s Commission of Integrity, saw the detention of 47 suspects, including lawmakers, former officials, and senior government employees.
On Sunday, Kurdistan Region authorities handed over eight detainees to the Iraqi Commission of Integrity, including three lawmakers and five senior officials arrested in Erbil by Counter Terrorism forces on corruption-related charges.
Senior KDP official Hoshyar Zebari also commented on the arrests, stressing that the Kurdistan Region would not shelter suspects.
“Iraqi Kurdistan is the bastion of freedom and democracy in Iraq. It has been and remains a sanctuary for all the free people of Iraq and those oppressed and tortured by human rights violations; however, it will never be a haven for criminals, thieves of public funds, and the corrupt," Zebari said in a post on X on Sunday.
A Kurdish lawmaker and member of parliament’s finance committee said corrupt officials may have embezzled funds equivalent to the country’s annual budget.
“I expect that an amount equal to Iraq's annual budget can be recovered from these corrupt individuals because massive corruption has occurred,” Jamal Kochar said.
“If these steps were not taken, the largest corruption in Iraq would have occurred in 2027, as they all spent billions of dinars [on campaigns] to become MPs only to steal it back later,” he added.
Iraq gives pro-Iran militias until Sept. 30 to dissolve
[IsraelTimes] Amid pressure from US, Iraqi PM says groups still holding onto their weapons after deadline ‘will be subject to legal redress’
Iraq’s government has given pro-Iran armed groups in the country until September 30 to disarm, coinciding with the end of the US-led anti-jihadist coalition’s mission, its spokesman said on Monday.
| For some reason none of today’s articles mention the Iran sock puppet Popular Mobilization Forces as a group, nor individual organizations like Kataib Hezbollah. |
“All the armed groups have been informed of a specific date that marks the end of this issue (of disarmament)… which is September 30, which also marks the end of the international coalition’s presence,” government spokesman Haidar al-Aboudi said in a weekly press conference.
“After this date, all weapons outside the state framework will be subject to legal redress,” he added.
Iraq is home to several powerful Iran-backed armed factions, which have seen their political and financial clout increase over the years.
Many emerged in the wake of the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq and gained further power and prominence during the fight against the Islamic State group from 2014 onwards.
They have long called for the withdrawal of American troops deployed within the anti-jihadist coalition, and they have frequently hit bases hosting US troops.
During the Middle East war, they have intervened in support of Tehran, targeting US facilities in Iraq more than 600 times. They also hit targets in Gulf countries.
Washington in turn launched its own attacks on the factions, before withholding cash payments for Iraqi oil revenues, which are largely at the Federal Reserve Bank in New York under an agreement reached following the invasion.
In early May, Washington pledged to resume financial transfers to Iraq and security assistance once “concrete steps” had been taken against the groups.
During a meeting with European ambassadors Monday, Zaidi “stressed that confining arms to the hands of the state is not merely a slogan, but a policy already being implemented,” according to his media office.
“The government remains committed to this course, particularly as Coalition forces are scheduled to complete their withdrawal by September 30,” said Zaidi, who recently took office with the blessing of the United States.
Powerful Iraqi politicians have also called for a state monopoly on weapons.
While some armed groups announced they will cooperate to hand over weapons to the state, others remain adamant that the issue should not be discussed under US pressure.
Iraq has long been a proxy battleground for Iran and the United States, with Baghdad trying to walk a fine line between its two key allies but mutual enemies.
Related:
Popular Mobilization Forces: 2026-06-28 Iraqi officials, including lawmakers, arrested on corruption charges in overnight raid UPDATE: arrestees tools of Iran
Popular Mobilization Forces: 2026-06-06 Iraq’s Hardline Factions Refuse a Disarmament Others Have Accepted
Popular Mobilization Forces: 2026-06-05 Iraqi forces kill three ISIS suspects in Nineveh operation
Popular Mobilization Forces: 2026-06-28 Iraqi officials, including lawmakers, arrested on corruption charges in overnight raid UPDATE: arrestees tools of Iran
Popular Mobilization Forces: 2026-06-06 Iraq’s Hardline Factions Refuse a Disarmament Others Have Accepted
Popular Mobilization Forces: 2026-06-05 Iraqi forces kill three ISIS suspects in Nineveh operation