Iraqi security forces on Thursday arrested a Shiite cleric who heads a pro-Iranian group which he claimed was responsible for firing mortar rounds into Saudi Arabia in November, police said.
Security forces arrested Wathiq al-Battat, the head of Jaish al-Mukhtar, on Palestine Street in Baghdad, the police colonel said.
It was not immediately clear on what charges he was arrested.
In November, Battat said Jaish al-Mukhtar had fired mortar rounds into an unoccupied area of neighboring Saudi Arabia in a "warning strike" over the Sunni-ruled kingdom's stance towards Shiites.
"We did not mean for our missile to reach a residential area because we value people's blood," said Battat. "But next time, if Saudi Arabia continues the same course, we will go farther, little by little."
Security forces arrested Wathiq al-Battat, the head of Jaish al-Mukhtar, on Palestine Street in Baghdad, the police colonel said.
It was not immediately clear on what charges he was arrested.
In November, Battat said Jaish al-Mukhtar had fired mortar rounds into an unoccupied area of neighboring Saudi Arabia in a "warning strike" over the Sunni-ruled kingdom's stance towards Shiites.
"We did not mean for our missile to reach a residential area because we value people's blood," said Battat. "But next time, if Saudi Arabia continues the same course, we will go farther, little by little."
