The New York Times, citing Iraqi and regional officials, reported the discovery of another alleged Israeli military base in Iraq. According to the publication, the hidden facility in the western desert part of the country was used for operations against Iran and played a role during the conflict in the summer of 2025.
Another Israeli military base has been discovered in Iraq, claims the New York Times, citing Iraqi and other regional officials. In early May, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing sources, that Israeli authorities had established a secret military base in the desert of Iraq for conducting airstrikes against Iran in the summer of 2025.
The New York Times specifies, referencing Iraqi and regional officials, that the "secured military facility of Israel" was discovered by a shepherd named Awad al-Shammari.
According to the publication, the man contacted the Iraqi armed forces, informing them about the soldiers, helicopters, and tents he saw at the site. Witnesses told the newspaper that the shepherd later died when his vehicle was fired upon from a helicopter. A relative of al-Shammari confirmed this information.
"The base that al-Shammari stumbled upon... was used during the 12-day war against Tehran in June 2025," the newspaper reports, citing representatives from the security service of one of the countries in the region.
The publication claims that Israeli military personnel had been constructing the hidden facility in Iraq for over a year to conduct operations against Iran. According to one regional official, Israeli military preparations for establishing the base began as early as 2024.
Two regional officials from the security service also stated that the base was used by Israel for air support, refueling, and medical assistance.
"It (the base) was intended only for a temporary presence to assist in military operations," the publication states.
An Iraqi official confirmed to the New York Times the existence of the facility, noting that the base is located in the western desert region of the country.
The New York Times publication may heighten tensions surrounding the presence of foreign military facilities in Iraq, writes bb.lv. The story of the base's discovery and the death of the local shepherd only fuels debates about the scale of the hidden confrontation between Israel and Iran in the Middle East.
