Sovereignty Compromised: The Inside Story of Israel’s Secret Military Bases in Iraq Used to Target Iran

An investigative report by The New York Times, citing senior Iraqi and Middle East regional officials, has exposed a highly classified development: Israel successfully established and operated a second secret military base deep within the western Iraqi desert. According to the intelligence summary, Israeli forces spent over a year preparing these clandestine outposts, with preparations starting in late 2024 to build temporary logistical centers for forward air support, aerial refueling, and emergency medical triage. These sites effectively shortened the deployment distances required for Israeli fighter jets to strike Iranian territory, providing vital strategic assistance during the 12-day war against Tehran in June 2025.

The Shepherd’s Fatal Discovery and Tactical Clashes

The operational veil was accidentally pierced near the town of Al-Nukhaib by a local nomadic shepherd, Awad al-Shamri. While driving his pickup truck, Awad discovered an unmapped airstrip surrounded by active foreign soldiers, helicopters, and military tents. According to his cousin, Amir al-Shamri, and Major General Fahim Al-Kuraiti (spokesperson for the Karbala Operations Command), Awad immediately notified regional authorities. Moments later, he paid with his life; his truck was pursued by a military helicopter and repeatedly fired upon, leaving his body and vehicle completely incinerated in the desert sands. The following day, an Iraqi reconnaissance unit dispatched to investigate was ambushed, leaving one Iraqi soldier dead, two wounded, and two vehicles destroyed, forcing a tactical retreat.

The Pentagon’s Role and Radar Blackouts

The exposure of these installations has sparked an intense political crisis regarding Iraq's national defense integrity. Regional security sources verified that Washington was fully aware of at least the Al-Nukhaib base since June 2025, indicating that the United States deliberately concealed the presence of hostile forces from its ally, Baghdad. Iraqi defense officials revealed that during recent active hostilities, the U.S. forced Iraq to deactivate its primary radar systems under the pretext of safeguarding American aircraft, creating a blind spot that blinded Baghdad to foreign incursions. Major General Ali Al-Hamdani, commander of the Western Euphrates forces, confirmed that his command suspected an Israeli footprint for over a month and officially requested clarification from U.S. counterparts, only to receive complete silence. Iraqi MP Wael al-Kaddo publicly condemned the dynamic, labeling it a blatant disrespect for Iraqi sovereignty and dignity.

Parliamentary Intervention and the Second Outpost

Following internal efforts by senior commanders to downplay the engagement, the Iraqi Parliament mandated a classified briefing on March 8. Iraq's Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Abdul Amir Yarallah, contacted the U.S. military, who confirmed the troops were not American, solidifying the consensus that the base was Israeli. While the spokesperson for security forces, Lieutenant General Saad Maan, claimed the state officially lacked prior records, Iraqi lawmaker Hassan Fadam revealed to reporters that Al-Nukhaib was merely the first discovery, confirming that Israel had successfully deployed at least one other operational base in a separate sector of the western desert.