DUBAI, UAE - The office of Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani on Tuesday announced that the premier has ordered the formation of a committee to investigate complaints from farmers in the Dora area and the outskirts of Baghdad after the armed clashes at an agriculture ministry building days earlier.

An armed group stormed an agriculture ministry building in Baghdad on Sunday upon the appointment of a new director for the department. At least one police officer and one civilian were killed in the attack, in addition to several officers and personnel injured during the confrontations.

A statement from Sudani’s office said that the former director had been arrested after his violations and corruption were proved and it was determined that he had “enlisted the help of armed elements.”

The statement added that in light of the incident and the numerous complaints submitted, the premier has ordered the formation of an investigative committee.

The committee will be led by the deputy head of the Federal Board of Supreme Audit and will include representatives from the Federal Integrity Commission and the Prime Minister’s Office.

The body will review complaints and claims of injustice submitted by farmers, particularly those involving land seizure or misuse. The findings will be sent to the prime minister for legal action, the statement added.

The Ministry of Interior also confirmed the arrest of the former director.

“A special unit from the Intelligence Agency arrested the former director for his direct role in the armed incident that happened inside the agriculture office,” the ministry said in a statement.

The ministry added that legal steps are being taken, and the suspect has been placed in detention pending a court appearance.

It stressed that security forces will not tolerate actions that threaten public safety or the authority of the state.

Security forces were able to arrest 14 individuals implicated in the attack, who were found to be members of brigades 45 and 46 of the Popular Mobilization Forces, according to a statement by the Joint Operations Command. The two brigades are led by Abu Hussein al-Hamidawi, secretary-general of the Kataib Hezbollah.