Israel Built Covert Bases in Iraq Before Iran War
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- Israel built two covert military outposts in western Iraq’s desert, preparing one since late 2024, according to The New York Times citing Iraqi officials and a regional source.
- The Wall Street Journal reported one base housed Israeli special forces and supported air operations, search-and-rescue missions, and attacks on Iraqi units that approached the site in March.
- Iraqi officials denied authorizing any foreign military presence, with Baghdad privately protesting to Washington in late March over the suspected Israeli activity, calling it a breach of sovereignty.
Why it matters: Iraq loses control over its territorial integrity as Israeli forces operate covertly within its borders, risking domestic backlash and diplomatic friction with the U.S., while Israel gains strategic depth for operations against Iran without public Iraqi consent.
