BAGHDAD
Iraq has recovered more than $1 billion in public funds, financial assets and real estate as part of a government campaign targeting financial and administrative corruption, government spokesperson Haider al-Aboudi said on Saturday, as the country’s Federal Commission of Integrity reported receiving more than 26,000 corruption complaints.
Aboudi said the value of funds, assets and properties recovered through the campaign had exceeded 1.359 trillion Iraqi dinars, equivalent to more than $1 billion.
He said the campaign, known as “Sawlat al-Fajr” (Dawn Assault), was continuing to pursue those suspected of involvement in corruption and recover public money and assets obtained illegally.
The campaign, launched on June 28 in coordination with Iraq’s Supreme Judicial Council, marks a renewed push by Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi’s government to tackle corruption not only through arrests and prosecutions, but also by recovering the proceeds and property allegedly acquired through illicit activity.
Aboudi said the Federal Commission of Integrity had received more than 26,000 reports concerning suspected corruption, highlighting the scale of the cases now facing investigative and judicial authorities.
The campaign has targeted dozens of current and former officials, lawmakers and businesspeople, including figures linked to the oil sector, with security forces carrying out raids in Baghdad and several provinces and seizing or freezing funds, property and other assets connected to corruption investigations.
Aboudi has described corruption as a “deeply entrenched web” linking money, administrative structures and influence, rather than a collection of isolated offences.
That assessment has placed asset recovery at the centre of the government’s campaign, as Baghdad seeks to demonstrate that its anti-corruption drive can produce tangible financial results while pursuing those accused of abusing public office.
The government has said some of the investigations were based on statements made by former deputy oil minister for refining affairs Adnan al-Jumaili, who was detained amid allegations involving the squandering of public funds and contracts that allegedly violated the law after he was dismissed from his post on June 2.
The oil sector is particularly sensitive in Iraq, where crude exports provide the overwhelming share of state revenues. Corruption involving oil contracts and related financial operations can therefore have a direct impact on government resources and its ability to finance public services and infrastructure.
The government has sought to emphasise the role of the judiciary as a central safeguard for the campaign. Aboudi described the Iraqi judiciary as the “biggest guarantor” of efforts to combat corruption and achieve their objectives.
The authorities are also seeking to shift the campaign towards prevention, arguing that recovering stolen assets after corruption has occurred will not be enough unless the administrative weaknesses that allow abuses to take place are addressed.
One of the government’s main tools is the expansion of digital systems and automation across state institutions. Aboudi said reducing direct contact between officials and members of the public could narrow opportunities for bribery, extortion and manipulation.
The strategy also includes advance scrutiny of major public procurement contracts, with the government seeking to identify irregularities before public funds are disbursed rather than relying solely on investigations after money has been lost.
The approach reflects an attempt to tackle corruption at several levels: through investigations and arrests, judicial proceedings, recovery of public assets and changes to the administrative systems that officials say create opportunities for abuse.
The scale of the complaints received by the Integrity Commission, however, presents a significant challenge for investigators and prosecutors. More than 26,000 reports require assessment, evidence gathering and, where appropriate, prosecution, placing considerable demands on the country’s oversight and judicial institutions.
The campaign also comes amid a broader series of corruption investigations in Iraq, including cases involving senior officials and politically connected figures. Authorities have repeatedly pledged that the drive will not exclude individuals because of their position or connections.
The government has also sought to encourage the reporting of corruption. Under Iraq’s Informants Law, individuals whose verified information directly contributes to the recovery of stolen public funds can be eligible for financial rewards of up to 5 percent of the amount recovered.
The campaign’s emphasis on recovering money and property distinguishes it from a narrower approach focused primarily on arrests. For Baghdad, returning assets to the state provides a measurable indication of the financial impact of corruption investigations while potentially recovering resources that can otherwise be used for public spending.
Yet the more than $1 billion recovered also raises questions about the scale of public wealth that may remain outside the state’s reach and how effectively authorities can trace assets moved through complex financial and property networks.
The government says its anti-corruption drive will continue, with investigations expected to expand as new reports reach the Integrity Commission and authorities pursue cases across state institutions and the private sector.
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