Iraqi security sources said that a joint force that includes the Counter-Terrorism Service, the Iraqi Army, and security agencies specialized in integrity issues was deployed, on Saturday night and Sunday, in a number of locations within the Green Zone in central Baghdad, with security measures tightened at a number of entrances and roads leading to it.
The sources added that the force began to implement judicial arrest warrants targeting political and government officials, deputies, security officials and businessmen, against the background of files related to corruption and abuse of influence, noting that some of the detainees were transferred to the Integrity Commission.
The sources said that the law enforcement authorities are preparing to issue an official statement on the campaign of arrests in Baghdad, noting that the detainees will be brought before the judiciary later on Sunday, stressing that the speaker of parliament, Heibat al-Halbousi, lifted the immunity of the detained deputies in conjunction with the legislative holiday.
Green Zone Closure Continues
An Iraqi source pointed out that the campaign of arrests continues in different areas of Baghdad, stressing that the Green Zone in central Baghdad "is still closed until now" while Iraqi security is carrying out searches in its vicinity.
In addition, eyewitnesses reported that armored vehicles and heavily armed security personnel were surrounding houses and villas inside the Green Zone.
They said that a CTS force "clashed with the protection of a figure while trying to execute an arrest warrant against her, without clarifying the nature of the clash or whether it resulted in additional injuries or arrests.
The sources reported that the force carried out raids in several areas of the capital, at a time when there were reports of the arrest of a senior official, without being able to independently verify this information, while a source spoke of a raid on the house of a senior official in a previous government.
No official statement yet
A security official said the overnight operations represented a "campaign of arrests" targeting figures and officials wanted under warrants.
Users circulated videos on social media that they said showed the closure of a number of the main gates of the Green Zone, and the deployment of tanks, armored vehicles and military vehicles inside them, while the authenticity of these clips could not be independently verified.
No security, government or judicial body has yet issued an official statement explaining the reasons for the security deployment, confirming or denying the execution of the arrests or the identity of the people who were said to have been arrested.
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