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Iraqi security forces have launched a major early-morning operation inside Baghdad’s heavily fortified Green Zone, reportedly targeting several senior political figures in a sweeping anti-corruption crackdown.
A security official told AFP that the operation was carried out under judicial orders and focused on alleged financial misconduct. The official said the “raid targeted several politicians over financial corruption, per judicial orders,” adding that the deployment involved anti-terrorism units alongside regular military forces.
The Green Zone in Baghdad, a high-security district that hosts the US embassy, other diplomatic missions, international organisations, and key Iraqi government buildings, was placed under intense security lockdown during the operation. It also serves as a residential enclave for high-ranking officials and political elites.
Video footage circulated on local Telegram channels showed armoured military vehicles, including tanks, moving through the district. Other clips appeared to show security personnel entering residential compounds and, in at least one instance, conducting an operation inside a house. The authenticity of the footage has not been independently verified.
The security source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the raids were “large-scale” and aimed at arresting senior Iraqi officials, though no names were disclosed. “Several names circulating in local media reports” suggest multiple high-profile individuals may be under investigation or detention, but authorities have not issued an official confirmation.
As of Sunday, no formal statement has been released by Iraqi authorities regarding the identities of those targeted or the scope of arrests.
The operation comes amid renewed political pressure in Iraq to address entrenched corruption and institutional mismanagement. Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi has previously pledged to intensify efforts against corruption and inefficiency that have long undermined governance in Iraq.
The scale and timing of the raid are likely to heighten political tensions in Baghdad, particularly given the Green Zone’s symbolic and strategic importance as the centre of Iraq’s governing and diplomatic architecture.
