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Iraq Negotiates with the US to Repatriate ‘Heist of the Century’ Suspects

The Parliamentary Integrity Commission in one of its meetings (the Commission's website)
The Parliamentary Integrity Commission in one of its meetings (the Commission's website)
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Iraq Negotiates with the US to Repatriate ‘Heist of the Century’ Suspects

The Parliamentary Integrity Commission in one of its meetings (the Commission's website)
The Parliamentary Integrity Commission in one of its meetings (the Commission's website)

The Iraqi Parliamentary Integrity Commission announced that the Iraqi judiciary is in talks with its US counterpart to repatriate suspects involved in the theft of public funds, dubbed the "heist of the century”.

In a press statement, Deputy Chairwoman Alia Nusayif said that the Commission and the national judiciary are coordinating with the Interpol to arrest individuals accused of embezzling tax revenues.

Nusayif added that the Iraqi judiciary is in discussions with its US counterpart to arrest those accused of the theft and extradite them to Iraq. She indicated that two of the defendants hold US citizenship.

The head of the Iraqi Integrity Commission, Judge Haider Hannon, had previously called on the US and the UK to extradite officials accused of embezzling tax revenues.

Hannon pressed relevant US and UK authorities to act upon arrest warrants issued against the suspects per Article 316 of the amended Iraqi Penal Code No. 111 of 1969.

He also called on the UAE to hand over the political advisor to the Prime Minister of the previous government, who currently resides on its territory. He requested Türkiye's assistance to extradite a former employee and his wife, previously associated with the Federal Integrity Commission.

-Defendants and bails

Former Iraqi Minister of Oil, Ihsan Abdul-Jabbar, and the Acting Minister of Finance in the government of former Prime Minister Mustafa Kadhimi were the first to uncover the "heist of the century."

Several red arrest warrants were issued against Kadhimi's team amid accusations of embezzlement and illicit enrichment.

The Iraqi judiciary did not issue a red arrest warrant with the help of Interpol to pursue Abdul Jabbar. However, an Iraqi court issued an order to seize his assets.

Shortly before the end of the term of Kadhimi, Abdul-Jabbar announced the embezzlement of taxes estimated at $2.5 billion deposited in the Rafidain Bank. He then announced his resignation from the position of Acting Minister of Finance.

Uncovering the theft, which turned into a public opinion issue, did not acquit Abdul-Jabbar, who was later accused of illicit enrichment.

-Arresting Zuhair

Former Interior Minister Othman al-Ghanimi announced that a unit arrested the main suspect of embezzling tax revenues, Nour Zuhair, the head of one of the five companies involved in the case.

Ghanimi told the media that Zuhair was arrested at the Baghdad International Airport before he escaped on his private jet. However, he was later released on bail after an agreement aiming to recover the funds that he admitted to seizing, estimated at approximately $1.25 billion.

Shortly after assuming his position as Prime Minister, Mohammad Shiaa al-Sudani appeared surrounded by hundreds of millions of dollars and Iraqi dinars to announce the first operations to recover the stolen funds.

-Awaiting the Interpol

The Iraqi government seeks to open corruption files, including recovering smuggled funds and repatriating wanted persons accused of embezzling public money.

The charges include senior government officials, and the judiciary issued contradictory positions towards the defendants.

The Iraqi public questions the validity of the red arrest warrants against the accused outside the country, which may not receive the required response from their countries of residence.

Several suspects hold dual citizenship, and some countries fear political revenge against some since the Iraqi political parties have not finally agreed to identify the main accused and the evidence that convicts them.

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Lebanese Parties Warn Against Hezbollah Keeping Light Weapons

Lebanese Shiite mourners gathered on Monday in Beirut’s southern suburbs to mark Ashura in a ceremony organized by Hezbollah (AFP)
Lebanese Shiite mourners gathered on Monday in Beirut’s southern suburbs to mark Ashura in a ceremony organized by Hezbollah (AFP)
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Lebanese Parties Warn Against Hezbollah Keeping Light Weapons

Lebanese Shiite mourners gathered on Monday in Beirut’s southern suburbs to mark Ashura in a ceremony organized by Hezbollah (AFP)
Lebanese Shiite mourners gathered on Monday in Beirut’s southern suburbs to mark Ashura in a ceremony organized by Hezbollah (AFP)

A recent proposal circulating in Lebanon that would allow Hezbollah to retain its light weapons while surrendering heavy and medium arms has triggered widespread political backlash, with critics warning it poses a grave threat to state sovereignty and public safety.

The suggestion, floated amid long-running debate over the group’s arsenal, argues that other political parties and armed groups also possess light weapons for various reasons. But key political factions have rejected the idea outright, citing Lebanon’s bloody past and the potential for renewed violence.

Opponents of the proposal have pointed to the events of May 7, 2008, when Hezbollah fighters overran parts of Beirut and Mount Lebanon in a show of military force, underscoring the dangers of allowing any non-state group to keep arms.

“Classifying weapons as heavy, medium or light is useless,” said Kataeb Party leader Sami Gemayel in a post on X. “If heavy arms threaten Lebanon’s regional security, light weapons are even more dangerous to the foundations of the state.”

Gemayel reiterated that only the Lebanese army and legitimate security forces should bear arms, calling for the country to be entirely free of weapons held by non-state actors.

MP Ghada Ayoub, of the Lebanese Forces-led "Strong Republic" bloc, echoed that view, insisting the state must assert full sovereignty over all Lebanese territory and outlaw any form of armed presence outside the official security apparatus.

“There is only one armed group operating outside the state, and that is Hezbollah,” Ayoub told Asharq al-Awsat. “It must become a purely political party and clearly, unequivocally declare an end to its military activity.”

Ayoub also criticized recent remarks by Hezbollah Deputy Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem, who vowed the group’s “resistance” would continue “without asking anyone’s permission.”

“The Lebanese state is responsible for enforcing a monopoly on the use of arms,” she said. “It must stop playing the role of a mediator or hiding behind the fear of war and internal strife. Time is not on Lebanon’s side.”

Ahmad Al-Kheir, a lawmaker with the “National Moderation” bloc, dismissed the proposal as “stillborn,” warning that light weapons have already been used to intimidate citizens and skew political dynamics.

“We saw yesterday how light arms were paraded through Beirut’s streets in a blatant attempt at provocation and coercion,” he said. “This is the real danger - using these weapons as leverage in political life, as we saw in the May 7 events and the occupation of downtown Beirut.”

“No one in Lebanon will accept this,” Al-Kheir added.

Additionally, critics warn that allowing any non-state entity to retain weapons threatens state authority and risks further destabilizing the country.

Al-Kheir urged Hezbollah and any other party in possession of light weapons to hand them over to the state, citing the recent example set by former Progressive Socialist Party (PSP) leader Walid Jumblatt.

“Jumblatt announced that his party had surrendered its weapons weeks ago. This is the model to follow,” he told Asharq al-Awsat.

MP Waddah Al-Sadek, of the Change Coalition, said he had no objection to a phased disarmament process that begins with heavy and medium weapons, followed by light arms. He dismissed fears of civil war, saying only one side is armed.

“Armed conflict requires two sides. The army will not engage in internal fighting,” he said. “This talk of civil war is just fear-mongering unless Hezbollah resorts again to something like the May 7 scenario to avoid disarming.”

Al-Sadek stressed that Lebanon’s response to the US proposal - reportedly outlining phased disarmament - will be critical. “Does anyone really have an alternative to engaging with this proposal?” he asked.

Deputy head of the Free Patriotic Movement, Naji Hayek, said all weapons must be handed over, rejecting the idea that civilians or political groups should be allowed to keep light arms for self-defense.

“This theory no longer holds,” Hayek told Asharq al-Awsat, adding that training camps used to militarize society should be shut down. “Light and medium weapons are not only with Hezbollah - they exist with other parties that have military structures, and these too must be dismantled.”

Political analyst Qassem Qassir, who is close to Hezbollah’s thinking, said there is no internal consensus, nor any agreement with Hezbollah, to give up its heavy and medium arms while retaining light weapons.

“The party insists the issue is still the Israeli occupation and ongoing aggression,” he said. “For Hezbollah, no discussion on disarmament is possible until those threats end.”

Qassir warned that if a political solution to the weapons issue is not reached, “we will inevitably face military risks and internal conflict.”

Jumblatt announced in late June that his party had handed over its remaining weapons, including light and medium arms that were gradually accumulated after the May 7 clashes in 2008 during a period of heightened tension with Hezbollah.

He said the weapons had been centrally stored and fully turned over to the Lebanese state.