The issue of secret Israeli military bases inside Iraq has resurfaced following new revelations from The New York Times, expanding on earlier leaks published by The Wall Street Journal. The investigation revealed the existence of two covert bases reportedly used to support strikes against Iran.
The logistical and military breach only came to light after an Iraqi shepherd reportedly approached one of the sites by accident and was killed. However, the operation appears to have relied on more than technological superiority alone. Reports indicate that American influence was used to impose what Iraqi officials described as a deliberate “radar blindness” across Iraqi airspace.
The Radar Blind Spot
According to Iraqi security officials cited by The New York Times, Washington forced Iraq to shut down its radar systems in order to protect American aircraft during the Iran conflicts of 2025 and 2026. This move significantly increased Baghdad’s dependence on US forces for detecting hostile aerial activity.
In practical terms, the measure stripped Iraq’s independent surveillance network of effectiveness and created aerial corridors beyond Iraqi monitoring capabilities. These gaps were reportedly exploited by Israel to move aircraft and establish operational positions inside Iraqi territory.
Regional officials quoted in the report said the dominant American role in Iraq’s security apparatus was a major factor in Tel Aviv’s calculations when deciding to operate within Iraq.
The extent of that role became clearer on 4 March, when the Iraqi army dispatched a reconnaissance force to investigate suspicious military activity in the desert. The unit reportedly came under heavy fire and was forced to retreat.
Following the incident, Iraqi Army Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Abdul Amir Yarallah contacted American officials seeking clarification about the identity of the force involved. Washington reportedly responded only by stating that it was “not an American force”.
According to Major General Ali al Hamdani, commander of the Western Euphrates Forces, that response led Baghdad to conclude that the force was Israeli. The report suggests that American involvement went beyond silence or passive observation and may have played a functional role in concealing the operation.
Further indications of prior coordination emerged through reports that Israel had begun planning the sites in late 2024, while Washington had reportedly been aware of at least one of the bases since June 2025. This places the entire operation under a broader umbrella of American secrecy.
The Nature of the Base
The sites were not large conventional air bases. Western military sources described them instead as advanced forward operating points used for weapons storage, refuelling, and emergency rescue operations.
The facilities reportedly hosted a limited number of elite personnel and were used temporarily to shorten operational distance to Iran. They also provided immediate launch points for search and rescue missions in the event Israeli aircraft were downed during operations.
Geography and the Disappearing Base
Terrain played a central role in concealing the operation. The monitored site in Wadi Humayr is located in a vast and sparsely populated desert region.
A dried lake bed was reportedly used to create a solid surface for constructing a temporary 1.6 kilometre runway, while the valley’s natural rock formations shielded the site from horizontal visibility.
Satellite imagery documented a rapid operational timeline:
2 March
Supplies arrived and the runway was constructed within days.
3 March
An Iraqi shepherd discovered the base and was reportedly killed by Israeli fire.
4 March
An Iraqi reconnaissance force came under fire, resulting in the death of one soldier and the withdrawal of the unit.
6 to 18 March
Operational activity intensified and field evidence increased significantly.
1 April
The base disappeared entirely. Heavy rainfall that struck Anbar province in late March rendered the site unusable, while floods and water flows erased much of the remaining evidence following dismantlement operations.
Unanswered Questions
Despite the level of detail revealed through satellite imagery and media investigations, major technical and logistical aspects of the operation remain undisclosed.
Available sources did not explain the specific technologies or electronic warfare systems used to neutralise remaining radar coverage, nor how large quantities of fuel and ammunition were transported deep into the desert without drawing attention.
Questions also remain over how encrypted communications with command centres in Tel Aviv were maintained without leaving detectable signal traces, and how detailed ground reconnaissance of the terrain was conducted in late 2024 before the final site was selected.
A Calculated Show of Force
The exposure of the base after its mission had ended does not appear to be a routine media leak. According to geopolitical analyst Brian MacDonald, writing for the Israeli outlet i24 News, the timing of the publication reflects the current political climate and stalled truce negotiations with Tehran.
He argued that the disclosure should be viewed as part of a calculated show of force and a deliberate message of deterrence.
Just as secrecy served the military operation during its most critical phase, the controlled disclosure appears to serve the post operation phase by demonstrating Israel’s ability to establish, operate, and dismantle a temporary military facility deep inside the territory of a third country with speed and precision.
The operation is now being framed as a new and effective instrument within the evolving toolbox of modern warfare.
