Iraqi authorities have said they arrested a political commentator over a post alleging that a military radar system struck by a drone had been used to help Israel in its war against Iran, AFP reports.

The court issued a warrant against him for posting content online that included “incitement intended to insult and defame the security institution”.

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.

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”.

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