According to a report in The New York Times, Israel operated at least two bases in Iraq that were kept secret for over a year to support military operations against Iran—contrary to initial reports, which claimed only one base was operated.
2+It was further noted that one of the bases was established as early as late 2024 in western Iraq, with the aim of locating remote sites from which future operations against Iran could be launched. In addition, it was reported that one of the bases was utilized by IDF forces during the war against Iran in June 2025.
Regional sources say, “the State of Israel invested over a year in preparing a clandestine site in Iraq for its operations against Iran,” and the existence of a second base was subsequently confirmed. The secret was exposed after a local shepherd, Awad al-Shammari, accidentally stumbled upon one of the outposts—which included a landing strip, helicopters, and soldiers—and reported it to the Iraqi army.
2+According to the report, the Israeli bases were established as part of preparations that began as early as late 2024, serving as strategic points for aerial support, refueling, and medical evacuation during the war against Tehran in June 2025. The purpose of the outposts was to shorten flight distances for the Israeli Air Force on its way to targets in Iran. Regional security sources stated that the United States was aware of the bases’ existence and even assisted indirectly, by requesting Iraq to deactivate its radar systems to protect American aircraft—a step that allowed Israel to operate without being detected by Iraqi defense systems.
2+The discovery sparked a political storm in Baghdad. While the official Iraqi government continues to deny the existence of the bases, lawmakers and high-ranking military officials confirmed that the information was concealed from them by their ally, the United States.