Israeli Forces Set Up Base in Iraq During Iran War
BAGHDAD: Israeli troops set up a temporary base on an old airstrip in the desert of Iraq during the ongoing conflict with Iran, two security officials reported on Sunday. This information aligns with a recent article from The Wall Street Journal.
The conflict began with coordinated attacks by the US and Israel on Iran on February 28. Early in the war, Israeli forces were spotted in the Najaf desert in southwestern Iraq, where they reportedly clashed with Iraqi soldiers, resulting in one death and two injuries.
According to a security official, “Israeli forces used an abandoned airstrip built by Saddam Hussein in the Najaf desert.” While those forces have since departed, there are indications they may have left behind some equipment. The operation was carried out in coordination with the United States.
The duration of the Israeli presence and the specifics of their mission remain unclear. Iraq has been involved in the Middle East conflict from the very start, with attacks attributed to the US and Israel targeting Iran-aligned groups, which retaliated by launching numerous assaults on US interests throughout Iraq and the Gulf region.
Reports about foreign troops in Najaf surfaced early in the conflict after a shepherd claimed to have observed military activities taking place there. On Saturday, The Wall Street Journal shared that “Israel established a secret military outpost in the Iraqi desert to support its air operations against Iran,” citing sources familiar with the situation, including US officials.
The report indicates that the installation, which included special forces and served as a logistical center for the Israeli Air Force, was built just before the conflict began, with US awareness of the endeavor. The Israeli military has not yet commented on these allegations.
In response to the WSJ article, an Iraqi security spokesperson referred journalists to a previous statement made on March 5. During that announcement, Qais al-Mohamadawi, Iraq’s deputy commander of joint operations, mentioned that the country had protested to the US-led coalition regarding an airstrike in Najaf. He added that following reports of unusual activities in the desert, Iraq’s military deployed forces to investigate further.
