Israeli forces set up a temporary camp in the Iraqi desert during the US-Israeli war with Iran, according to Iraqi and US officials who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. The existence of the secret facility, first reported by The Wall Street Journal, was described as a makeshift base using an old airstrip near the Nukhaib desert, southwest of Karbala and Najaf.
Confirmation of Israeli Presence
Two Iraqi security and intelligence officials, along with a senior US military official, confirmed that the force was Israeli. The US official downplayed the term "base," calling it a "temporary staging area or camp to support operations in Iran." The Iraqi intelligence official stated that the force had set up tents and its objective was to monitor rocket launches and drone activity by Iraqi militias linked to Iran.
Discovery and Response
A shepherd first noticed the presence and reported it to authorities. Iraqi army forces investigated in early March but came under aerial attack while en route, resulting in one fighter killed and two injured. The Iraqi military later returned to find no trace of the force. General Abdul-Amir Yarallah, chief of staff, said the force likely stayed no longer than 48 hours.
Satellite images from March 8 showed a human-made track in a dry lake bed, about 1.5 kilometers long, suitable for warplane takeoffs and landings. The nearest town, Al-Nukhaib, is 45 kilometers away, minimizing attention.
Context of the War
The US and Israel attacked Iran on February 28, triggering a regional war. Iraq, hosting Iran-linked militias, faced attacks on US bases and Israel, with US and Israeli forces striking militia sites. The Iraqi government sought to remain neutral, but the revelation of an Israeli force operating covertly embarrassed authorities.
Acting Pentagon press secretary Joel Valdez and Israeli military representatives declined to comment. The Iraqi defense ministry stated that search operations found no evidence of a long-term military presence.
