Iraq PM sacks nine officials over oil smuggling in pro-Iran stronghold

Dismissals follow probe that uncovered illegal oil refineries and smuggling in a region run by Kataib Hezbollah, a pro-Iranian armed group. Iraq’s Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi has dismissed nine senior security officials over an alleged oil smuggling operation in the Jurf al-Nasr area, a stronghold of the Iran-backed Kataib Hezbollah group.

Al-Zaidi chaired an emergency security meeting to review the findings of a committee investigating smuggling in Jurf al-Nasr, Babil province, military spokesperson Sabah al-Numan told the Iraqi News Agency (INA). The move follows an investigation that uncovered illegal oil refineries and evidence of manipulation linked to the smuggling activities.

“In light of the investigation’s findings, [the prime minister] ordered that all individuals accused of involvement in oil smuggling operations be referred to the judiciary,” al-Numan said.