Iraq: 9 officials dismissed after oil smuggling uncovered
Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi dismissed nine officials, including security and oil sector personnel, following a government investigation that confirmed the involvement of entities in oil smuggling from the Jurf al-Sakhar area, where the Iran-backed Kata'ib Hezbollah is based, amid rising tensions between al-Zaidi and the armed group.
Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi dismissed nine officials, including security and oil sector personnel, on Saturday evening, following a government investigation that confirmed the involvement of entities in oil smuggling from the Jurf al-Sakhar area in Babylon province, where the Iran-backed Kata'ib Hezbollah is based. Al-Zaidi ordered the investigation last Wednesday into suspicions of oil smuggling, and a government committee entered the area on Friday accompanied by elements of the armed group. The Iraqi News Agency quoted an unnamed informed source as saying that smuggling operations have been ongoing for many years, involving methods such as pipeline breaches, oil storage, and smuggling routes toward Baghdad. Military spokesman Sabah al-Nu'man confirmed in a statement on Saturday evening that the investigation results verified the information regarding oil smuggling operations, and al-Zaidi issued directives to refer all accused individuals to the judiciary and to relieve nine officials. However, al-Nu'man did not name the accused or specify the roles of the dismissed officials. This step comes amid rising tensions between al-Zaidi and Kata'ib Hezbollah, and increasing US pressure on Baghdad to control the weapons of groups close to Tehran.