Israeli forces had been preparing the makeshift sites in western Iraq since late 2024, the US newspaper reported.
Israel reportedly established two covert military outposts in Iraq’s western desert ahead of the US-Israel war against Iran, according to a report by The New York Times. The newspaper said on Sunday that Iraqi officials had uncovered two secret Israeli-operated bases in the region. Citing an Iraqi official and a lawmaker, the report added that construction plans for one of the temporary facilities had been in progress since late 2024, according to a regional source.
The Wall Street Journal reported last week that one of the covert bases was set up shortly before the conflict began and operated with US awareness. According to the report, the facility was used by Israeli special forces and functioned as a logistics centre supporting Israeli air missions. It also reportedly had search-and-rescue units prepared to assist downed pilots.
The newspaper said Israeli troops launched strikes from the base against Iraqi forces that came close to uncovering the site in early March. Open-source intelligence analysts cited in the report used satellite imagery to identify the suspected location near Iraq’s border with Saudi Arabia.
The revelations have intensified speculation surrounding alleged Israeli operations inside Iraq, following months of conflicting reports. On Thursday, Iraq’s deputy commander of joint operations, Lieutenant-General Qais al-Muhammadawi, said authorities had received reports of “individuals or movement” in the Najaf desert near Karbala, roughly 100 kilometres southwest of Baghdad, according to the Iraqi News Agency.
The Journal also referred to remarks made in March by former Israeli air force chief Major-General Tomer Bar, who said Israeli special forces had conducted “extraordinary” missions during the war with Iran, although he did not reveal where those operations took place.
Iraqi authorities have denied granting permission for any foreign military forces to operate in the area. Speaking before reports of the alleged Israeli base surfaced, Lieutenant-General Qais al-Muhammadawi stated last week that there was “no agreement or approval for any force to be present in this location.”
The Wall Street Journal reported that the Iraqi government quietly raised concerns with Washington in late March over suspected covert military activity, calling it a violation of the country’s sovereignty.
The newspaper cited US officials as saying the United States was not involved in the alleged operation. Meanwhile, a senior Iraqi security official told Türkiye’s Anadolu Agency on Sunday that reports claiming Israel had set up a military base in the desert were untrue.
The commander of Iraq’s Karbala operations told Al Jazeera on Tuesday that Iraqi forces had identified an Israeli military group in the Najaf desert in March, although he said the unit remained there for less than two days.
The reports surface as Iraq comes under increasing strain amid rising tensions involving the United States, Israel and Iran.
The US has repeatedly pressured Baghdad to rein in Iran-backed armed groups active in Iraq. In March, American forces launched strikes on the Popular Mobilisation Forces after attacks targeted a US diplomatic and logistical facility near Baghdad airport.
Iran has also voiced concern over the allegations. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said on Monday that Tehran intended to raise the matter with Iraqi officials, accusing Israel of attempting to destabilise the region.
“Israel’s conduct in the region shows that it respects no boundaries or red lines,” Baghaei said.