Report: Israel built secret base in Iraq to support strikes on Iran; Iraqi troops hit near site

Israel built a secret military base in Iraq’s desert to support its air operations against Iran and struck Iraqi troops who nearly discovered the site early in the fighting, according to a report. The move was described as unprecedented by the report. The base was established before hostilities began and with the knowledge of the United States, the report said.

It hosted Israeli special forces and search-and-rescue units positioned to recover pilots who might be shot down during strikes. People familiar with the matter said the logistics hub, located about 1,600 kilometers from Israel, played a key role in managing thousands of Israeli airstrikes against military targets inside Iran in recent weeks.

The site was nearly exposed in early March when a local shepherd reported suspicious helicopter movements, prompting the Iraqi army to send troops to inspect the area, the report said. As soldiers approached, Israeli forces carried out heavy airstrikes on the Iraqi unit, preventing it from reaching the location.

One Iraqi soldier was killed and two were wounded, according to the report. The account portrays the base as central to the recent campaign against Iran and underscores the lengths taken to keep its presence concealed, the report said.