A stronghold in the Iraqi desert, intended for special forces and search-and-rescue teams, was nearly exposed early in the conflict. Israelis even carried out airstrikes on Iraqi troops who accidentally stumbled upon the facility. The Wall Street Journal reports the details, citing sources familiar with the operation, including American officials.
Illustrative image. Israeli Air Force AH-64A Peten attack helicopters. Photo: Ofer Zidon / Stocktrek Images / Getty Images
As noted by the WSJ, the secret base was built immediately before the start of hostilities with the consent of the United States. It served as a logistical hub for the Israeli Air Force and a deployment site for special forces. Search-and-rescue teams played a special role, tasked with evacuating Israeli pilots if their aircraft were shot down over Iran. According to the publication's sources, no such incidents occurred.
It all started with a shepherd
However, the base was almost exposed as early as the beginning of March. As the WSJ writes, a local shepherd reported suspicious military activity in the desert to Iraqi authorities, including helicopter flights.
Following this, the Iraqi command dispatched troops to inspect the area. According to one of the publication's sources, the Israeli side carried out airstrikes to prevent Iraqi units from approaching the secret facility.
The clash received widespread publicity in Iraqi and Arab media, prompting numerous speculations about who exactly was involved in the fighting.
Iraqi state media reported that after receiving the shepherd's message, Iraqi soldiers in Humvees moved towards the scene at dawn but came under intense fire.
The Deputy Head of Iraq's Joint Operations Command, Lieutenant General Qais al-Muhammadawi, stated that one soldier was killed and two others were wounded. Following this, Iraqi authorities dispatched two more groups from the Counter-Terrorism Service – an elite formation that played a key role in the war against the "Islamic State".
During the searches, as al-Muhammadawi noted, traces of military presence were discovered. According to him, "some force" was operating in the area with air support and significant capabilities. The scale of the operation exceeded the capabilities of Iraqi units.
The Iraqi government condemned the attack. Al-Muhammadawi called the operation "reckless" and told state media that it was carried out "without coordination or permission".
In a complaint filed later in March with the United Nations, Iraq stated that the attack was carried out by foreign forces using aviation, attributing responsibility to the US. However, according to the source, the American side was not involved in this strike.
The spokesperson for the Iraqi government declined further comment on the incident and did not answer whether Baghdad was aware of the existence of the Israeli base.
Significance of Israel's Base in the Iraqi Desert
As the author notes, the story of the secret base helps to understand how Israel was able to conduct an intense aerial campaign against a country located approximately 1600 kilometers away.
The base in Iraq significantly reduced the distance to the combat zone and allowed for quicker response in emergency situations. According to WSJ sources, it also hosted special units of the Air Force of Israel, trained for sabotage operations in hostile territory.
According to Michael Knights, Head of Research at the strategic consulting firm Horizon Engage, with whom WSJ correspondents spoke, the practice of establishing such temporary operational bases before major operations is common for American forces.
In his opinion, Iraq's western desert is ideal for such tasks: it is a vast and sparsely populated region. He recalled that American special forces had already used these territories during operations against Saddam Hussein in 1991 and 2003.
According to Knights, residents of Iraq's desert regions have grown accustomed to unusual activity in recent years – from movements of "Islamic State" militants to special forces operations – and have learned to stay away from such places. He also claims that local residents told him about unusual helicopter activity during the current war.
As noted by the WSJ, Israeli authorities indirectly hinted at conducting secret operations. In early March, Israeli Air Force Chief Tomer Bar addressed personnel with a special letter. According to him, special units of the Air Force were performing "special missions, capable of astounding any imagination" during these days.
Israel's military leadership declined to comment.
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