Live Update 
From the Liveblog of
Saturday, November 14, 2026
From the Liveblog of
Saturday, November 14, 2026
Iraq’s PM sacks officials over oil smuggling in stronghold of Iran-backed terror group
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on Google
Members of an Iraqi Shiite militant group attend a funeral of a fighter with the Kataeb Hezbollah, who was killed in a US airstrike in Basra province south of Baghdad, Iraq, April 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)
Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi has dismissed nine officials, following an investigation into allegations of oil smuggling in the Jurf al-Sakher area, a stronghold of the Iran-backed Kataeb Hezbollah terror group.
“In light of the investigation’s findings,” Zaidi “ordered that all individuals accused of involvement in oil smuggling operations be referred to the judiciary,” his military spokesman Sabah al-Numan says, without identifying the suspects. The premier “also ordered the dismissal” of nine officials, including those from the security and oil sectors.
More from today’s Liveblog:
- Two-year-old briefly disappears at Ben Gurion Airport; climbed onto baggage conveyor belt en route to sorting and loading
- Shin Bet pressed Joint List activists for info on rival Ra’am party during election fraud probe — report
- Eisenkot calls Netanyahu’s unity offer ‘another spin,’ says Yashar-Likud talks already scheduled
If you’d like to comment, join
The Times of Israel Community.
The Times of Israel Community.
JOIN THE TOI COMMUNITY
Already a member? Log in here