In the run-up to joint U.S.-Israel strikes against Iran, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) set up at least two secret military bases in the Iraqi desert, The New York Times revealed Sunday.
The details of a second secret installation came a week after The Wall Street Journal reported the existence of a clandestine Israeli air base in a remote location southwest of Baghdad.
Israel began developing these secret forward bases at least a year ago, and reportedly operated them during the 12-Day War (June 13-24), and the currently paused operation Epic Fury against Iran. “Israel spent over a year preparing a covert site in Iraq for its operations against Iran, regional officials say,” the NYT wrote, reporting on the second site.
The secret bases, set up to support joint U.S.-Israeli operations against Tehran, housed IDF special forces, logistic hubs, and airstrips. They were seen as launch pads for search-and-rescue missions if Israeli or U.S. pilots ejected over Iranian airspace.
Israel had informed the U.S. about the existence of the bases. Still, the Iraqi government, deeply infiltrated by pro-Iranian agents and sympathizers, was not informed, The New York Times complained. “Baghdad has struggled to balance ties with Washington and neighboring Iran, which wields significant influence through allied militias and political factions,” Israel’s Ynetnews noted Sunday. “The Trump administration has increased pressure on Iraq to curb Iranian influence, demanding Baghdad disarm pro-Iran militias and prevent them from integrating further into Iraqi state institutions and security forces.”
According to The NYT:
“… Iraq had played host to two covert bases operated intermittently by Israel, a hostile state, for well over a year.Israeli forces began preparing to build the makeshift base as far back as late 2024, one of the regional officials said — identifying remote sites from which to operate in future conflicts.Israel’s military declined repeated requests for comment (…).Most of the officials who discussed the Israeli bases insisted on anonymity to discuss a highly sensitive security matter.The information they shared indicates that at least one of the bases (…) had been known to Washington since June 2025 or possibly earlier. That would most likely mean Baghdad’s other key ally, the United States, had withheld from Iraq the fact that hostile forces were on its soil.
While Israel has not formally commented on these reports, this appears to be one of the largest and most elaborate clandestine operations in recent military history. The IDF also conducted covert operations on Iranian soil during the recent strikes. A week into Operation Epic Fury, Israeli special forces were reportedly operating inside Iran. “IDF special forces, together with Mossad operatives, operated inside Iran during the overnight hours,” the Israel Hayom newspaper reported March 3, citing Arab media outlets.
During the 12-Day War, “ground commando forces” inside Iran helped the Israeli Air Force in gaining “full control over Iranian airspace,” Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir disclosed days after the War.
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