Next wave of anti-corruption sweep could hit Framework figures, State of Law figure says

BAGHDAD — Iraq’s Dawn Strike anti-corruption campaign could resume within hours or days and uncover cases bigger than its first phase, implicating political figures in the ruling Coordination Framework, said Salah Boushi, a member of Nouri al-Maliki’s State of Law Coalition.

The coming developments could surprise political factions, including those celebrating Thursday’s completion of most of Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi’s cabinet, Boushi told Dijla TV, and could reach influential groups in the Framework, including parties that backed the vote. He did not name anyone or describe the cases. Completing the cabinet had been a hard-won achievement after negotiations that nearly split the parties involved, he said, but the renewed campaign would test the government’s willingness to hold officials to account. The investigations concerned the authority and credibility of the state and should not be used to settle political scores, he said, adding that State of Law would cooperate if any of its members were implicated, provided the cases rested on evidence rather than rivalry. He also blamed political decisions and deals under Mohammed Shia al-Sudani’s government for administrative failures and suspected wrongdoing.

Dawn Strike began on June 28, when security forces, including Counter-Terrorism Service units and army troops, raided the Green Zone to arrest current and former officials and lawmakers suspected of corruption. State media initially reported 47 arrests, while a government spokesperson confirmed 21, with more suspects at large. The investigations grew out of the case against former Deputy Oil Minister Adnan al-Jumaili, whose detention over alleged irregularities in the oil sector led investigators to other officials and politicians. The Supreme Judicial Council said on July 6 that it had seized 127 billion dinars (about $84 million at the official rate) and $24 million in the case, along with property, vehicles and jewelry.

Four lawmakers have since been jailed for seven years, and Azm Alliance leader Muthanna al-Samarrai is due to stand trial on Oct. 19. The raids divided the Framework: senior figure Amer al-Fayez said in July that political leaders had criticized Zaidi over their secrecy and the deployment of tanks in the Green Zone, while others defended the investigations but questioned the methods.

On Thursday, parliament approved 11 ministers and three deputy prime ministers. Votes on a fourth deputy and the migration ministry were postponed after Kurdistan Democratic Party lawmakers walked out.