Hidden war room in Iraq? Report claims Israel ran covert operations near Iran

Tehran: A report published by The Wall Street Journal has claimed that Israel established a secret military base in Iraq shortly before the start of the joint US-Israeli military campaign against Iran earlier this year.

According to the report, the covert facility was reportedly created in February and used as a logistical hub to support operations by the Israeli Air Force during the conflict.

The report cited US officials and individuals familiar with the matter, though the claims have not been independently verified.

Base reportedly supported special operations

The alleged installation was said to house Israeli special forces personnel along with search-and-rescue teams prepared to respond if Israeli pilots were shot down during missions linked to the conflict with Iran.

Sources cited in the report claimed the base was positioned in Iraq’s western desert region, an area considered strategically valuable because of its sparse population and geographic proximity to Iran and Jordan.

Security analysts quoted in the report stated that remote desert territory is often used for clandestine military preparations before major operations.

The report further alleged that Iraqi security forces nearly uncovered the secret installation in March after reports emerged of unusual helicopter activity and gunfire in a remote desert region.

According to the account, Iraqi troops moved toward the area to investigate after local observations raised suspicion about military movements.

The report claimed Israeli forces then launched airstrikes aimed at preventing Iraqi personnel from reaching the site and exposing the operation.

Iraq initially blamed the United States

Following the March incident, Iraqi authorities reportedly accused the United States of carrying out the strike, describing the operation as unauthorised and conducted without coordination with Baghdad.

However, US officials later denied involvement in the attack.

A senior Iraqi military official was quoted at the time as saying there appeared to be “a certain force on the ground” operating with capabilities beyond those of local units.

The latest report now claims the operation was linked to Israeli military activity rather than direct US action.

The Israel Defense Forces has not publicly confirmed the existence of the reported base. Israeli authorities also declined to comment directly on the claims in the report.

The article referenced previous remarks by Israeli Air Force chief Major General Tomer Bar, who had earlier spoken about “extraordinary” missions conducted by special units during the conflict, though he did not provide details.

Iraq caught between regional powers

The developments highlight Iraq’s sensitive geopolitical position between the United States and Iran during the broader regional conflict.

Iran-backed armed groups operating in Iraq reportedly targeted US-linked facilities during the war, including diplomatic compounds and logistics infrastructure.

In response, US forces carried out retaliatory strikes against militia positions, further increasing instability inside Iraq during the conflict period.

Analysts say the reported presence of covert foreign military activity inside Iraqi territory could raise new questions about sovereignty, regional security and the widening scope of the Iran-Israel confrontation.