Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
A second alleged covert Israeli military base has reportedly been uncovered inside Iraq, according to a new report by The New York Times cited by regional and Israeli media, intensifying controversy over foreign military activity on Iraqi soil during the recent confrontation with Iran.
The report claims Israel spent more than a year preparing the clandestine installation in Iraq’s western desert as part of operational planning linked to strikes and missions targeting Iran. According to the allegations, American officials were aware of the base’s existence while the Iraqi government itself was allegedly kept uninformed.
The revelations come only days after separate reports published by The Wall Street Journal alleged that Israeli forces had established another covert military outpost in Iraq used to support operations during the regional war with Iran.
According to reports circulating Sunday, the newly revealed second base predates the recent war and may have been operational as early as 2024, serving logistical, intelligence, and contingency functions tied to Israeli air operations against Iran.
The allegations have fueled outrage across Iraqi political and media circles, particularly claims that Baghdad was pressured to deactivate portions of its radar systems under the justification of “protecting US aircraft,” while covert foreign operations were allegedly unfolding simultaneously across Iraqi territory.
Neither Israel nor the United States has officially confirmed the existence of the reported second base.
The earlier Wall Street Journal report alleged that Israeli forces used a secret desert outpost in Iraq as a logistics hub and search-and-rescue platform for pilots involved in strikes against Iran. Iraqi troops investigating suspicious helicopter activity reportedly came under air attack before reaching the site.
The Associated Press separately reported that Iraqi and US officials confirmed the existence of a temporary Israeli presence in Iraq’s Nukhaib desert during the conflict, though the duration and scope of operations remain disputed.
The emerging reports threaten to deepen tensions over Iraqi sovereignty and could place renewed pressure on the Iraqi government regarding the presence and activities of foreign military forces operating within the country.
No independent public evidence has yet been released confirming the full scope of the alleged second Israeli base or the exact nature of US involvement described in the reports.
