Israel Operated Secret Military Base in Western Iraq, Targeted Iraqi Troops

Israel set up a secret military base in the western Iraqi desert ahead of its air campaign against Iran, housing special forces and serving as a logistical and search-and-rescue hub for Israeli air operations, according to US officials cited by The Wall Street Journal. The United States was aware of the base, but Iraqi authorities were not informed, violating Iraqi sovereignty.

In early March, Iraqi military forces launched an investigation after a local shepherd reported unusual activity, including low-flying helicopters. As Iraqi units approached the site, Israeli airstrikes hit one patrol, killing one soldier and wounding two. Two subsequent units found evidence of recent military presence, confirming foreign forces had operated in the area.

Lieutenant General Qais Al-Muhammadawi, deputy commander of Iraq's Joint Operations Command, stated the operation occurred without coordination or approval, noting the forces involved had capabilities beyond local units. Iraq filed a formal complaint with the United Nations, attributing the attack to the United States, though a US official told The Wall Street Journal the US was not involved in the strike.

The remote western desert, sparsely populated and previously used by US forces during past conflicts, offers strategic cover for covert operations. The discovery raises tensions over foreign military activity on Iraqi soil and regional escalation in the Israel-Iran conflict.

Iraqi authorities are expected to demand further clarification from both Israel and the US, while the United Nations awaits a response to the formal complaint. The Israeli military has not issued an official statement regarding the base or the strikes.