According to a report published by The Wall Street Journal, Israel secretly established and operated a covert military base deep inside western Iraq to support its operations against Iran during the recent regional conflict. The hidden outpost reportedly served as a crucial staging ground for Israeli special forces, rescue teams and logistical missions connected to Israel’s broader air campaign targeting Iranian territory.
The report stated that the secret base had been functioning long before Iraqi authorities became aware of suspicious military activity in the desert region. Located in a remote and sparsely populated area of western Iraq, the facility was allegedly used as a frontline operational hub for missions extending deep into Iranian territory, allowing Israeli forces to support long-range air operations far from Israel’s borders.
However, according to the report, the covert operation nearly unravelled after Iraqi troops began investigating unusual helicopter movements in the desert following complaints from a local shepherd. The shepherd reportedly informed Iraqi authorities about repeated low-flying helicopters and suspicious activity occurring in the isolated area, prompting Iraqi security forces to launch an investigation.
Citing people familiar with the operation, including unnamed US officials, The Wall Street Journal reported that the secret base housed Israeli special forces personnel and rescue teams prepared to respond if Israeli pilots were shot down during operations over Iran. Israeli officials were reportedly concerned that conducting airstrikes nearly 1,000 miles away from Israeli territory could leave air crews trapped deep inside hostile regions without immediate support.
According to the report, those fears became more serious earlier in the conflict when a US F-15 fighter aircraft crashed near Isfahan. One source quoted by the newspaper claimed that Israel offered assistance in rescuing the two American airmen involved in the incident, although US forces eventually conducted the rescue operation independently. Nevertheless, Israel reportedly launched supporting airstrikes to help secure the area during the rescue mission.
The hidden base was nearly exposed after Iraqi troops moved toward the suspected location in early March. Iraqi state media reported that helicopters had repeatedly been seen flying unusually low over the western desert region, creating suspicion among local residents and security officials.
According to Iraqi officials cited by local media, Iraqi soldiers travelling toward the site in Humvees during the early morning hours suddenly came under intense fire as they approached the area. The clash reportedly resulted in the death of one Iraqi soldier while two others were injured.
Lieutenant General Qais Al-Muhammadawi later condemned the incident, stating that the operation had been carried out without Iraqi approval or coordination. He described the strike as reckless and criticised the unauthorised military activity taking place on Iraqi territory.
The confrontation quickly triggered outrage within Baghdad. Iraqi authorities later filed a formal complaint with the United Nations blaming unspecified “foreign forces” for the attack. Initial Iraqi suspicions reportedly focused on the United States, although the report later stated that US forces had no involvement in the strike on Iraqi troops and that the operation had been carried out solely by Israel.
Publicly, Israeli officials have remained largely silent regarding the covert operations reportedly conducted during the conflict. However, earlier in March, outgoing Israeli Air Force chief Tomer Bar indirectly referenced secret missions being carried out by Israeli special units.
In a farewell message issued before leaving office in May, Bar praised unnamed special operations teams and stated that fighters from certain Israeli air force units were conducting “special missions” capable of igniting the imagination. Although he did not directly mention Iraq or Iran, his remarks were widely interpreted as a reference to covert regional operations.
The clash in western Iraq quickly fuelled speculation across Iraqi and Arab media outlets, with growing questions surrounding the identity of the military force operating secretly in the desert region. In response, Iraqi authorities reportedly deployed additional Counter Terrorism Service units to search the area and investigate the incident further.
According to reports, Iraqi investigators later discovered signs indicating that highly trained military personnel had recently operated in the area. Officials reportedly concluded that the forces involved possessed operational capabilities beyond those normally associated with local militant groups or irregular fighters.
Lieutenant General Qais Al-Muhammadawi later stated that evidence suggested a sophisticated military force had been operating on the ground with aerial support, conducting activities beyond the capabilities of Iraq’s own units.
The western Iraqi desert has historically been considered strategically valuable because of its vast and largely uninhabited terrain. The same region had previously been used by American Special Forces during military operations against former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein during both the 1991 Gulf War and the 2003 Iraq invasion.
