[53987] Report: Israel established a secret military base in Iraq during the war against Iran

Wall Street Journal exposé: Secret Israeli base deep in Iraq

According to an extensive report by The Wall Street Journal, published on May 9, 2026, Israel established a secret military base in the heart of the Iraqi desert before the outbreak of the latest conflict with Iran. The base was established with the knowledge of the United States, but without direct American participation, and was intended to serve as a logistics hub for special forces, search and rescue teams, and support for aerial operations by the Israeli Air Force.

Details of the incident and exposure

The base faced the risk of exposure at the beginning of March, after a local shepherd noticed suspicious helicopter activity and reported it to the Iraqi authorities. According to Vahid Online and Iran International, Iraqi forces sent to scan the area encountered an Israeli airstrike intended to prevent them from reaching the site. The reports state that in this incident, one Iraqi soldier was killed and two others were wounded.

Scope of activity and implications

The official Sabereen News channel and Fars News (identified with a critical stance toward Israel) emphasized the claim that the base is located about 1,600 kilometers from Israel. These media outlets, alongside the official Revolutionary Guards channel, presented the information as evidence of deep Israeli interference in sovereign Iraqi territory.

At the same time, Al-Arabiya Persian noted that the war, which began on February 28 and ended with a ceasefire agreement on April 8, was accompanied by high tensions with Iraq, which initially filed a complaint with the UN claiming incorrectly that the United States was responsible for the attacks, while Washington denied any direct involvement as reported by Payam Iran.