Iraqi government orders probe over weapons smuggling to Hezbollah in Lebanon

Iraqi government orders probe over weapons smuggling to Hezbollah in Lebanon Submitted by Alex MacDonald on Thu, 07/16/2026 - 14:42 Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi sets up committee after 'weapons and missiles' sent through Syria to Iran-backed group An Iraqi special forces member stands guard in a street in Basra on 8 September, 2018 (AFP/Haidar Mohammed) Off Iraq's prime minister has announced a probe into cross-border smuggling to Lebanon's Hezbollah. Ali al-Zaidi said he was setting up a "high-level committee" in coordination with the Syrian government to investigate the transport of “advanced weapons” from Iraq through Syria to the Iran-backed group. Iraq's Joint Operations Command (JOC), which answers directly to the prime minister, said that it would "hold those responsible for any shortcomings accountable, in a manner that ensures the security and stability of the shared border and prevents any attempts to undermine national security.