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The Israeli forces operated at least two covert bases in Iraq’s western desert, used by Tel Aviv possibly to support military actions against Iran during the 12-day conflict in June 2025 and the ongoing war with Tehran, the New York Times reported.
According to the New York Times, one of the bases was discovered accidentally by an Iraqi shepherd who stumbled upon the closely guarded Israeli military secret, hidden in the desert. His family believes it cost him his life.
The newspaper reported that the slain shepherd contacted Iraq’s regional military command to “report what he had seen: soldiers, helicopters and tents clustered around a landing strip”. The NYT report confirmed an earlier report by the Wall Street Journal, which reported on the presence of one Israeli outpost in Iraq.
In response to the shepherd’s report, the Iraqi army sent a reconnaissance force, which came under attack. One soldier was killed, two were wounded and two vehicles were bombed before the units decided to retreat.
