Another US base found in the Iraqi desert

Israel secretly built two military bases in Iraq to carry out military operations against Iran. The New York Times reported that an Iraqi soldier and a civilian were killed while defending these bases. Earlier, The Wall Street Journal reported that Israel had built a base in the western desert of Iraq for use during the US-Israeli war against Iran. Later, satellite images showed a structure resembling a temporary airbase in a dry lake southwest of Karbala.
However, the New York Times report said that there was another secret base there. Which was used in the conflict with Iran in June 2025 and in this year’s war. The report said that Israel began building the bases in late 2024. It also claimed that the US was aware of this. However, neither Israel nor the US has yet admitted this.
The report said the bases were used to shorten the time it took to launch attacks on Iran, provide medical assistance, and ensure the supply of supplies for the Israeli air force. Special forces and rescue teams were also deployed there. Local Bedouins in western Iraq had been warning authorities about suspicious activity for weeks. However, it is claimed that they did not receive adequate assistance despite monitoring the situation from afar and requesting information from the United States. According to the New York Times, a Bedouin shepherd named Awad al-Shammari was killed by an Israeli helicopter strike on March 3 while walking towards the base. Later, a surveillance operation by Iraqi forces killed one soldier and wounded two others. Iraqi lawmaker Wad al-Qudu said that this was a clear disregard for Iraq’s sovereignty and the dignity of its people. However, the Israel Defense Forces did not comment on the matter.