Report Says Israel Built Two Secret Bases in Iraq Desert

A New York Times report published Sunday says Israel built two secret military bases in Iraq's western desert during the ongoing conflict with Iran. The report cites unnamed Iraqi officials and states that one base was discovered on March 3 by a Bedouin shepherd who noticed unusual helicopter activity.

Iraqi military personnel responded to the report, and one Iraqi soldier was killed during the incident. The New York Times report says the second base predates the current conflict and was used during Operation Rising Lion in June 2025. Preparations for that base reportedly began in 2024.

A Wall Street Journal report published one week earlier described a separate secret base built to support airstrikes. According to that account, the facility housed special forces and served as a logistics site for potential rescue operations if pilots were shot down.

The Wall Street Journal report said Israeli forces used airstrikes to drive Iraqi troops away from the first base after it was nearly discovered. A U.S. source told the Wall Street Journal that American forces were not involved. The New York Times report notes that the second base was established before the current round of operations between the United States, Israel, and Iran.