DUBAI, UAE - Iraqi influential Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr on Friday reiterated support for Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi’s anti-corruption campaign, calling him a “reformist soldier,” as tens of thousands of Sadr supporters across the country answered the cleric’s call for peaceful rallies in support of the government efforts.

In the early hours of Sunday, Iraqi special security forces, under the directive of Prime Minister Zaidi, launched Operation Dawn, entering Baghdad's fortified Green Zone and imposing a lockdown as they arrested dozens of high-level officials and lawmakers for their alleged involvement in corruption.

Responding to an earlier call by Sadr, supporters held solidarity sit-ins after Friday prayers in Baghdad and several other provinces in support of the government's crackdown on high-ranking officials and lawmakers accused of involvement in corruption.

In a message delivered during Friday prayers, Sadr said: “Our call is for reform, and it does not bring us together with the corrupt… Whoever stood with me in prosperity and adversity, let us continue our path in support of reform and the reform campaign whose light has begun to shine in our beloved Iraq.”

He called for peaceful support for the government's efforts, saying, “stand in a peaceful pause to support reform and the reformist soldier, brother Zaidi, may God protect him, to strengthen his resolve and weaken the determination of the corrupt, who are trying to pressure him and dissuade him from the courageous and fruitful raids that have frightened and angered many at home and abroad.”

The large-scale crackdown was not exclusive to the Green Zone, but rather targeted corruption suspects residing anywhere in the country, including in the Kurdistan Region.

Sadr also thanked the Iraqi judiciary, parliament speaker and security forces for backing Zaidi’s campaign, while saying he holds “the corrupt fully responsible for the lives of reformers and reform soldiers and everyone who promotes restoring the prestige of the homeland, religion and sect.”

Sadr had called for Friday’s rally last week while endorsing Zaidi’s anti-corruption drive, describing it as a “heroic reform campaign that has restored hope to our hearts and the hearts of the Iraqi people, after the corrupt had dominated its destiny.”

He expressed hope the campaign would continue and praised the judiciary and security forces for their role in combating “terrorism and corruption.”

The campaign by Zaidi, has since led to the arrest of dozens of lawmakers and senior officials on corruption charges, including Sunni Azm Alliance leader Muthanna al-Samarrai, several members of parliament, former Wasit governor Mohammed Jamil al-Mayahi, oil ministry undersecretary Ali Ma’arij al-Bahadli and former prime ministerial advisor Ibrahim al-Sumaidaie.