ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi and Nouri al-Maliki, head of the State of Law Coalition, on Saturday stressed the importance of supporting the government’s efforts to combat corruption and implement economic and administrative reforms, Zaidi’s office said.

The two sides highlighted “the importance of supporting the government's efforts in combating corruption and implementing economic and administrative reforms,” the premier’s office said in a statement.

The remarks come amid an anti-corruption crackdown by Zaidi that started with a sweeping raid of Baghdad’s Green Zone in late June, which saw the arrest of several high-ranking Iraqi officials.

By late July, Iraq had seized over $125 million and 380 kilograms of gold and jewelry hidden in various places in a corruption case involving Adnan al-Jumaili, the detained oil ministry undersecretary for refining affairs.

In July, the Iraqi government officially confirmed that at least 21 people were detained during the widespread crackdown operation – dubbed Operation Dawn – on corruption charges. Iraqi state media had initially reported that 47 people were arrested.

Zaidi’s clampdown on corruption has witnessed widespread support across the Iraqi political sphere, including the ruling Coordination Framework.

The meeting also stressed the need to complete the government formation process, which would strengthen the government’s performance and enable it to implement executive programs, “including its strategic plans and development programs aimed at improving the country's situation,” the statement added.

The Iraqi parliament approved Zaidi’s government program during a May 14 session, while also ratifying the appointment of 14 of 23 ministerial candidates.

However, lawmakers failed to complete voting on several key cabinet positions amid political disagreements and disputes on the parliamentary floor.

The ministries of defense and interior, among other portfolios, remained vacant after no candidate secured sufficient parliamentary support.