BREAKING: Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi appears to have launched a coup d'état against elements within the Iraqi government in an effort to purge and arrest government officials with ties to the Islamic regime of Iran. Iraqi news media are claiming that the U.S. government is behind this coup d'état. Tens of Iraqi government officials, politicians, and influential figures believed to have supported Iran have reportedly been arrested by Iraqi Special Forces and the Counter Terrorism Service (CTS), allegedly with the support of the United States. The operation is widely claimed to have been backed by the U.S. government. Reports indicate that tanks from Iraq's Counter Terrorism Service have entered Baghdad's Green Zone and sealed off all access points. Iraqi Counter Terrorism Service units have also reportedly clashed with the 4th Regiment assigned to the Government Palace inside the Green Zone. Heavy arrests have been reported inside Baghdad's Green Zone, including: - Bahaa Al-Nouri - Ziad Al-Janabi - Muthanna Al-Samarrai - Alaa Sukkar - Mohammed Al-Karbouli - Hassan Al-Khafaji - Abdul Karim Al-Sudani - Abbas Al-Sudani - Mohammed Al-Sayhoud There is no official confirmation yet of these reports. However, they suggest that a broad purge under Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi may be intensifying.