Secret Israeli Base in Iraq Expanded Reach During Iran Offensive

Jerusalem, May 10, 2026: A major Wall Street Journal investigation has revealed that Israel secretly established and operated a covert military base deep inside Iraq’s western desert to support its extensive air campaign against Iran, marking one of the most strategically bold and politically sensitive operations in the region’s recent military history.

According to the report, the clandestine installation was constructed shortly before Israel’s large scale offensive against Iran began earlier this year, with U.S. officials reportedly aware of the operation.

The hidden base functioned as a forward logistics hub for Israeli Air Force missions, significantly improving operational flexibility by reducing distance to Iranian targets and enhancing mission endurance.

Israeli special forces personnel were reportedly stationed at the outpost, with responsibilities including search and rescue support for downed pilots, intelligence coordination, and mission contingency planning.

This infrastructure appears to have played an important role during Israel’s five week air offensive, which involved thousands of strikes targeting Iranian military and strategic assets.

The report suggests that Iraq’s vast and sparsely populated western desert offered an ideal environment for concealment while providing proximity to Iranian airspace.

However, the secrecy of the operation nearly collapsed in early March when a local shepherd reportedly noticed suspicious military activity and alerted Iraqi authorities.

Iraqi troops sent to investigate the unusual helicopter and ground movements were allegedly struck by Israeli airstrikes before they could fully expose the site.

Those strikes reportedly killed one Iraqi soldier and wounded others, dramatically escalating the diplomatic sensitivity surrounding the covert mission.At the time, Iraq lodged a formal complaint with the United Nations, initially attributing the attack to U.S. forces, though Washington denied involvement.

The episode underscores the extent to which regional military operations are increasingly reliant on unconventional forward deployment strategies.

For Israel, such a base would have offered critical strategic depth, particularly in sustaining longer range missions and reducing operational strain on aircraft.