According to people familiar with the situation, Israel constructed and operated a clandestine military installation in the Iraqi desert to support an air campaign directed at Iran. The site, which reportedly housed special forces personnel, functioned as a logistical hub for the Israeli air force and included search-and-rescue teams positioned to assist any pilots who might be downed during operations.
Those sources say the base was established with the knowledge of the United States shortly before the onset of the U.S.-Israeli campaign targeting Iran. Details about the facility emerged after an episode in early March that nearly exposed its location.
Iraqi state media said a local shepherd observed unusual military activity, including helicopter movements, prompting Iraqi security forces to send troops to the area to investigate. When those Iraqi troops approached, forces tied to the clandestine installation used airstrikes to hold them at a distance and prevent the site from being discovered, according to one of the people familiar with the matter.
Later in March, Iraq filed a complaint with the United Nations describing an attack that involved foreign forces and airstrikes and attributing the action to the United States. Another person familiar with the situation said the United States was not involved in that particular strike.
There was no immediate response from the Israeli prime minister's office to a request for comment. The reporting that formed the basis of these accounts could not be independently verified.
Context and implications
The account describes a multilayered operation in which a forward base in Iraqi territory was used to support air operations, provide logistical sustainment and stage search-and-rescue capabilities. The near-discovery episode in March illustrates the operational risks associated with maintaining covert facilities in proximity to local armed forces and civilian populations.
Attribution for the March airstrikes is disputed in official communications, with Iraq attributing responsibility to a foreign actor and another source saying the United States was not involved. These conflicting claims underscore uncertainties about who carried out the strikes and about how the incident will be addressed diplomatically.