Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi has dismissed nine senior security officials amid allegations of a vast oil smuggling operation estimated to generate up to $30 million per month, in a decisive move targeting a key stronghold of the powerful Kataib Hezbollah militia.
The sweeping personnel changes signal a significant escalation in the government’s efforts to confront corruption within the security apparatus and curb the illicit revenue streams financing armed groups operating outside state control. Sources indicate the network facilitated the illegal extraction and transport of crude oil from northern fields, diverting critical national resources.
Al Jazeera’s Peter Smith, reporting from Baghdad, notes that the dismissals represent one of the most direct challenges yet by the al-Zaidi administration to the influence of Iran-aligned factions within the state’s security infrastructure. The investigation is ongoing, with authorities pledging to pursue assets and prosecute those involved in the scheme.
Also Read
- UK Government Explores Raising Age of Consent After Russell Brand Allegations
- Pope Francis Warns of Declining Rural Communities in Peru’s Historic Inca Region
- New Orleans Port Sues for $1M and Moves to Seize Tanker After Cruise Ship Collision
- SpaceX Starship Achieves First-Ever Launchpad Arm Capture
