New Details About Two Secret Israeli Bases in Iraq
TEHRAN (Defapress) - According to Al Jazeera, following the initial revelations by the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times has now reported in a detailed report on the existence of two secret Israeli bases in Iraq; bases that, according to the report, have been used to provide logistical support for operations against Iran.
According to the report, the incident became public when an Iraqi shepherd accidentally approached one of these sites and was killed in a shootout.
Iraqi security sources have told the New York Times that Washington had forced Baghdad to turn off its radars in 2025 and 2026 to protect American aircraft; an action that effectively created air routes beyond Iraq's independent control.
On March 4, an Iraqi army reconnaissance force sent to investigate suspicious activity came under heavy fire and retreated.
Iraqi officials learned that the force was Israeli after receiving a negative response from the United States about its identity.
The report adds that Israel began planning for the sites in late 2024, and the United States has known about one of them since at least June 2025.
Western military sources have described the bases as advanced refueling, armament, and rescue bases that were temporarily set up in a desert area in the Wadi Hamir.
Satellite images show that the bases were set up between March 2 and April 1 and then completely dismantled.
Despite the details released, questions remain about the technical and logistical aspects of the operation, how equipment was transported deep into the desert, and how encrypted communications were managed.
At the same time, some analysts consider the publication of this report to be part of a calculated "show of power" and a deterrent message in the current circumstances of the region.
