Israel Built Secret Military Base in Iraq to Support Iran Campaign
WSJ investigation reveals covert Israeli installation deep in Iraqi desert, defended with lethal force against Iraqi troops who nearly discovered it in March.
Israel constructed and operationally defended a secret military base in the Iraqi desert to support its aerial campaign against Iran, conducting airstrikes against Iraqi forces who nearly discovered the facility in early March and killing one Iraqi soldier, according to a Wall Street Journal investigation published 10 May.
The clandestine base was established shortly before the 28 February onset of the US-Israeli conflict with Iran and was used by Israeli special forces and search-and-rescue teams in case Israeli pilots were downed during operations over Iranian territory. The United States had knowledge of the installation, per Investing.com reporting on the WSJ investigation.
The revelation exposes Israel’s willingness to violate Iraqi sovereignty while projecting force across the region, transforms Iraq into an active theater of the broader Iran conflict, and raises questions about the extent of US complicity in operations conducted on Iraqi soil without Baghdad’s approval.
The US and Israel launched airstrikes on Iran on 28 February 2026, targeting military and government sites and assassinating Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and other officials. Iran retaliated with missile and drone strikes on Israel, US bases, and allied Arab states, and closed the Strait of Hormuz. The parties agreed to a two-week ceasefire on 7 April, though tensions remain elevated.
Discovery and Defence
The base was nearly compromised in early March after a local shepherd reported unusual helicopter activity in the area to Iraqi authorities. Iraqi troops dispatched to investigate encountered Israeli forces who launched airstrikes to prevent discovery of the installation. Iraq initially attributed the attack to American forces before the WSJ investigation revealed Israeli responsibility.
“This reckless operation was carried out without coordination or approval,” the Iraqi government stated, according to the Times of Israel, confirming the US was not involved in the March airstrikes. A top Iraqi military official told the WSJ: “It appears there was a certain force on the ground before the strike, supported from the air, operating beyond the capabilities of our units.”
“The troops of the air force’s special units are currently carrying out extraordinary missions that can spark one’s imagination.”
— Maj. Gen. Tomer Bar, Israeli Air Force Chief
Israeli Air Force chief Maj. Gen. Tomer Bar hinted at the scope of covert operations in March, stating that special forces were conducting missions that “can spark one’s imagination,” though he provided no specifics at the time.
Strategic Implications
The base’s existence underscores Israel’s calculation that projecting force deep into Iraqi territory was operationally necessary to support strikes against Iran, despite the diplomatic and sovereignty violations involved. According to Wall Street Journal reporting, Michael Knights, head of Horizon Engage intelligence firm, described the installation as standard pre-operational preparation: “It’s normal that before operations you reconnoiter and set up these kinds of locations.”
Iraq has transformed into what Politics Today describes as a “secondary front” where Iran and the US-Israel coalition wear each other down through Iraqi territory. The country has once again demonstrated sovereignty issues within its own borders, with both sides conducting Military Operations without Baghdad’s authorization.
The revelation comes as the United States has deployed three carrier strike groups to the region for the first time in decades, with Carrier Strike Group 10 arriving in CENTCOM’s area of responsibility on 23 April. The buildup represents the largest US force projection in the Middle East since the 2003 Iraq invasion.
Regional Destabilisation Risk
Political analyst Sajad Jiyad warned of spillover potential in comments to the WSJ: “There is a sizable risk of a spillover escalation in Iraq. Iraqis have a right to be worried.” According to Foreign Affairs analysis, Iraq’s fragile neutrality has collapsed as both Iranian-aligned militias and US-Israeli operations intensify on its territory.
The 7 April ceasefire between Iran, Israel, and the United States has not prevented continued tensions or incidents across the region. Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz during the conflict disrupted global energy flows, raising crude prices and demonstrating the strategic vulnerability of Gulf shipping lanes.
What to Watch
Whether the WSJ revelation prompts Iraqi demands for accountability or triggers parliamentary resolutions constraining US and Israeli freedom of operation. Baghdad’s response will signal whether Iraq can assert sovereignty or remains a permissive environment for external military operations. Monitor statements from Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani and parliamentary blocs aligned with Iran-backed militias.
Track any shift in US carrier positioning or Israeli air force activity patterns following the base’s exposure. If Israel relocates or expands covert infrastructure elsewhere in the region, expect similar sovereignty flashpoints in Jordan or Kurdish-controlled areas. Energy markets will price in heightened Iraq instability if Iranian-aligned militias escalate attacks on US or Israeli assets within Iraqi territory, potentially threatening northern oil export routes through Turkey.
The ceasefire’s fragility remains the central variable. Any resumption of US-Israeli strikes on Iranian targets could see Iraq’s role as a staging ground formalised rather than covert, transforming the country from a secondary front into a primary theater of the broader conflict.