ISRAEL allegedly established a clandestine military outpost deep inside the Iraqi desert to support operations linked to its air campaign against Iran, according to a report published by The Wall Street Journal citing individuals familiar with the matter, including United States officials.
The report claims the secret installation was constructed shortly before the outbreak of the joint United States-Israeli conflict involving Iran and functioned as a logistical and operational hub for Israeli military activities in the region.
According to the newspaper, the facility housed Israeli special forces personnel and search-and-rescue teams tasked with assisting any Israeli pilots shot down during operations over hostile territory.
The Wall Street Journal reported that the operation was carried out with the knowledge of the United States, although Washington was reportedly not directly involved in military actions connected to the site.
Reuters said it was unable to independently verify the allegations contained in the report. The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The report further alleged that the covert facility came close to being exposed in early March after a local shepherd reportedly alerted Iraqi authorities to unusual military activity in the area, including helicopter movements in the remote desert region.
Iraqi security forces were subsequently deployed to investigate the site, but Israeli forces allegedly carried out airstrikes to prevent Iraqi troops from approaching and discovering the installation.
According to the newspaper, the incident later prompted Iraq to file a complaint with the United Nations in March, claiming that foreign forces had conducted airstrikes on Iraqi territory.
The complaint reportedly attributed the attack to the United States, although The Wall Street Journal cited a source familiar with the matter as saying American forces were not involved in the strike operation.
The allegations emerge amid heightened regional tensions surrounding the conflict involving Iran and growing scrutiny over covert military operations across the Middle East, particularly in countries where competing regional powers maintain sensitive security interests.
Neither Iraqi authorities nor United States officials have publicly confirmed the existence of the alleged Israeli outpost. - May 10, 2026
