[54755] 'Wall Street Journal' Exposure: Israel established a secret base in Iraq during the war with Iran

The exposure of the secret base in Iraq

According to a report by the Wall Street Journal (via Iran International), Israel established a secret military base in the western desert of Iraq even before the outbreak of the war with the Islamic Republic. The base, which operated with the knowledge of the United States, served as a logistics hub for the Israeli Air Force, for stationing special forces, and search and rescue teams for pilots.

According to the report, at the beginning of March, the base was almost exposed after a local shepherd noticed suspicious activity. In response, Israel carried out an airstrike against Iraqi forces that arrived in the area, an incident that led to the death of one Iraqi soldier and two others who were wounded. RFI News Agency in Persian confirmed the details through security sources, while Kurdistan 24 channel noted that this base provided support for military operations that began on February 28, 2026.

Reactions and contradictions in the Iraqi arena

On the Iraqi side, the reactions are mixed. While certain security officials described in conversations with Al Jazeera (via Khabar-e-Fori) and Al Arabiya the possibility of American activity or local heli-borne [operations], the official Iraqi government, through the IRNA news agency, categorically denied any presence of an Israeli base on Iraqi soil.

Permanent American presence in Israel

Meanwhile, the regional discussion is spilling over into the question of American presence. Al Arabiya channel and Akharin Khabar website reported that the U.S. is considering a permanent stationing of military forces within Israel. The move, which reportedly includes discussions on deploying air defense systems and fighter squadrons, is perceived as a significant strengthening of Israel's defensive capabilities following the tensions with Iran.

The nuclear threat

At the same time, Fox News network (via Iran International) reports that experts are warning the Trump administration of a "blind spot" in future agreements with Iran: the possibility of using plutonium from spent nuclear fuel to produce weapons. Experts like Jason Brodsky emphasized the need for close monitoring of the Bushehr reactor, while other figures, such as David Albright, estimate that this path is too complex for Iran at this stage.