ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – Iraqi forces arrested several politicians and lawmakers suspected of involvement in a multi-million-dollar oil ministry corruption case, state media reported Sunday.

“The arrests included members of parliament whose immunity had been lifted and officials whose names appeared in those confessions,” the state-run agency said, quoting an unnamed high-ranking official.

Iraqi security forces entered and carried out raids overnight in Baghdad’s Green Zone in the early hours of Sunday. Videos circulating online showed security personnel operating heavy-armored vehicles and tanks in the area.

Although no official statement has been issued regarding the names of those apprehended, as of the time of writing this article, a source close to Azm Alliance’s Muthanna al-Samarrai told The New Region that the Sunni leader, in addition to Azm lawmaker Mohammed al-Karbouli, has been arrested.

According to The New Region’s Baghdad correspondent, Ibrahim al-Sumaidaie, a senior advisor to former Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani has also been arrested.

The arrests followed “confessions given” by former Deputy Oil Minister Adnan al-Jumaili, who was arrested in May over an alleged embezzlement scheme involving more than $85 million.

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi “will not hesitate to pursue corrupt individuals and those involved in misappropriating state funds,” the high-ranking source told Iraqi state media.

Baghdad’s Green Zone is the administrative nerve of the Iraqi government, housing the prime minister’s Office, the Iraqi parliament, diplomatic missions, including the US Embassy, as well as the headquarters of many political parties.

Soon after the approval of his cabinet by the Iraqi parliament in May, Prime Minister Zaidi pledged that under his leadership, Baghdad will “work vigorously” to protect public funds against corruption, as it “constitutes an obstacle and delays the progress of the state.”

“We will work to consolidate security and stability, protect Iraq's sovereignty, and strengthen our Arab, regional, and international relations,” the premier said in a speech at the time.

Iraq has long suffered from rampant corruption and bribery. The country ranked 140 out of 180 countries on Transparency International’s 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index, despite successive Iraqi governments’ vowing to clamp down on the phenomenon.