Israel Establishes Secret Military Outposts in Iraq
Israel has reportedly created hidden military bases in the remote deserts of western Iraq to aid air operations against Iran. These bases include special forces and rescue teams stationed near conflict zones, and initial airstrikes against Iraqi forces were executed that significantly damaged facilities, as detailed in a report released on Saturday.
According to the report, Israel set up this operation with U.S. knowledge just before the joint action against Iran commenced on February 28th.
The outpost is said to have included Israeli Air Force special forces specially trained for deep incursions into enemy territory. It functioned as a logistics base supporting Israeli actions nearly 1,000 miles from home.
Search and rescue teams were also on alert to rapidly extract Israeli pilots if any aircraft went down over Iranian soil, although, fortunately, no crew members required rescue during the operation.
The report mentioned that when a U.S. F-15 plane with two American airmen was downed near Isfahan, Israel offered aid, but the U.S. military opted to carry out the risky recovery on its own. Still, Israeli forces executed an attack to protect the operation.
Interestingly, the secret outpost nearly came to light in early March when local shepherds noticed unusual helicopter activity and alerted Iraqi officials.
In response, Iraqi troops dispatched to investigate the area were reportedly repelled by airstrikes before they could reach the base.
This prompted Iraq to condemn the attacks, which resulted in one Iraqi soldier’s death and injuries to two others. Lieutenant General Qais al-Muhammadawi, deputy commander of Iraq’s Joint Operations Forces, criticized the operation for being carried out without proper coordination or authorization.
Iraq later lodged a complaint with the United Nations regarding the U.S. attack, although it was reported that American forces had no part in it. Muhammadawi remarked that the force present on the ground had capabilities surpassing those of Iraqi forces.
The report offers a rare look at the extensive covert infrastructure underpinning Israel’s air campaign against Iran, which has included thousands of strikes aimed at dismantling crucial components of Iran’s nuclear and military capabilities.
According to military analysts, Iraq’s wide and sparsely populated deserts provide an optimal location for a temporary operational base, enabling the Israeli military to position resources close to Iranian territory and swiftly react to incidents behind enemy lines.
Michael Knights, a director of research at Horizon Engage, commented that conducting reconnaissance and establishing such sites prior to operations is standard procedure.
The report also sheds light on vague comments made by outgoing Israeli Air Force commander Maj. Gen. Tomer Barr in early March, suggesting ongoing covert activities during the operation.
Moreover, this revelation follows recent news that Israel secretly deployed an Iron Dome battery in the United Arab Emirates during the conflict, alongside dozens of IDF personnel, to defend the UAE from Iran’s relentless missile and drone attacks. This marks the first known operational deployment outside of Israel, emphasizing the heightened cooperation between Israel and the UAE under the Abraham Accords.
