Israel build two covert bases in Iraq for Iran war — media

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A series of recent media reports has alleged that Israel operated covert military bases in Iraq to support its air campaign against Iran during the recent war, sparking protests from Baghdad over violations of its sovereignty. The claims, which have emerged from multiple outlets including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and Israeli media, describe a hidden Israeli outpost in the Iraqi desert that served as a logistics hub and emergency rescue point for pilots.

Coverage Comparison

Reporting on the alleged bases has varied by outlet and angle. The Wall Street Journal first reported that Israel operated a covert military base in the Iraqi desert, with Iraqi officials saying security forces investigating suspicious helicopter activity in March came under aerial fire, killing one soldier. The New York Times, cited by Russia's TASS, reported that Israel has been operating two military bases in Iraq for more than a year, with one base's construction starting in late 2024.

The Jerusalem Post, citing its senior military correspondent, confirmed details about a covert IDF outpost in the Iraqi desert, describing it as a logistical hub and emergency rescue point for pilots shot down over enemy territory. The same report detailed an incident where Iraqi troops approached the base and were pushed back by Israeli airstrikes, resulting in one Iraqi soldier killed and two wounded.

While the reports agree on the existence of at least one covert base, they differ on the number of bases, the degree of US involvement, and the timeline of operations. The New York Times report suggests Washington may have concealed the presence of Israeli troops from Baghdad, while a US source cited by the Jerusalem Post said American forces were not involved in the March incident.

Key Claims

Existence of covert bases: Multiple sources agree that Israel operated at least one covert military base in Iraq. The Wall Street Journal and The Jerusalem Post report a single outpost in the Iraqi desert, while The New York Times, as cited by TASS, claims two bases have been operating for over a year, with the second located in the western desert.

Purpose of the base: The base reportedly served as a logistics hub for the Israeli Air Force, a staging point for special operations forces, and an emergency rescue point for pilots who might be shot down. According to The Jerusalem Post, IDF special forces rescue units were clandestinely placed in Iraq to jump into action if needed, but no pilots were shot down, so the rescue team did not act.

US involvement: A Jerusalem Post report quoted an IDF general describing cooperation with the US Air Force as "historic and unprecedented," stating he was refueling over Iraq with US forces while on a mission to attack Iran. However, a US source cited in the same report said American forces were not involved in the March incident near the base.

The New York Times report suggests the Pentagon likely knew about the bases, despite refusing to comment, and that revealing this information could jeopardize US influence in Iraq. TASS cited NYT sources as saying it is impossible that US Central Command did not know about the bases.

Iraqi incident and sovereignty: Iraqi officials have protested the violation of sovereignty. In March, Iraqi troops conducting remote surveillance of a base came under fire when they attempted to approach, resulting in one soldier killed and two wounded, according to The New York Times report. The Iraqi government filed a complaint with the United Nations, according to The Jerusalem Post.

Perspectives

The Iraqi government has rejected any presence of Israeli bases on its territory, calling the incident a violation of sovereignty. Baghdad has protested the strikes and filed a UN complaint, underscoring the diplomatic sensitivities of any foreign military presence in the country.

Israeli sources, as reported by The Jerusalem Post, frame the operations as part of the war against Iran, with the IDF general describing cooperation with the US as unprecedented. The report emphasizes the operational necessity and the lack of any need to activate rescue teams, as no pilots were shot down.

The New York Times report, as cited by TASS, focuses on the US angle, suggesting Washington may have concealed the bases from Baghdad and that the revelation could damage US influence. This perspective raises questions about the extent of US knowledge and involvement in the secret operations.

It is important to note that these reports rely on anonymous sources and have not been independently verified by all outlets. The Pentagon has refused to comment, and the Iraqi government's official position remains that no Israeli bases exist in the country.