Iraqi authorities said they arrested a political commentator on Wednesday over a post alleging that a military radar system struck by a drone had been used to help Israel in its war against Iran.<\/p>\n
After a court issued a warrant, the defence ministry said that Iraqi forces arrested Abbas al-Ardawi for sharing content online that included “incitement intended to insult and defame the security institution”.<\/p>\n
In a post on X, which was later deleted but has circulated on social media as a screenshot, Ardawi told his more than 90,000 followers that “a French radar in the Taji base served the Israeli aggression” and was eliminated.<\/p>\n
Early Tuesday, hours before a ceasefire ended the 12-day Iran-Israel war, unidentified drones struck radar systems at two military bases in Taji, north of Baghdad, and in southern Iraq, officials have said.<\/p>\n
The Taji base hosted US troops several years ago and was a frequent target of rocket attacks.<\/p>\n
There has been no claim of responsibility for the latest drone attacks, which also struck radar systems at the Imam Ali airbase in Dhi Qar province.<\/p>\n
A source close to Iran-backed groups in Iraq told AFP that the armed factions have nothing to do with the attacks.<\/p>\n
Ardawi is seen as a supporter of Iran-aligned armed groups who had launched attack US forces in the region in the past, and of the pro-Tehran Coordination Framework, a powerful political coalition that holds a parliamentary majority.<\/p>\n
The Iraqi defence ministry said that Ardawi’s arrest was made on the instructions of the prime minister, who also serves as the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, “not to show leniency towards anyone who endangers the security and stability of the country”.<\/p>\n
It added that while “the freedom of expression is a guaranteed right… it is restricted based on national security and the country’s top interests.”<\/p>\n
Iran-backed groups have criticised US deployment in Iraq as part of an anti-jihadist coalition, saying the American forces allowed Israel to use Iraq’s airspace.<\/p>\n
The US-led coalition also includes French troops, who have been training Iraqi forces. There is no known French deployment at the Taji base.<\/p>\n
The Iran-Israel war had forced Baghdad to close its airspace, before reopening on Tuesday shortly after US President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire.<\/p>\n
cbg\/tgg-rh\/ami<\/p>\n
\u00a9 Agence France-Presse<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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