This story originally appeared in the JC Israel Briefing. You can sign up to receive the briefing daily here.
Israel built and defended a secret military base in western Iraq to support its air campaign against Iran, according to a report first published by The Wall Street Journal.
The clandestine outpost, reportedly established shortly before the outbreak of the Iran War, housed Israeli special forces and served as a logistical hub for the Israeli Air Force during long-range strikes on Iranian targets, the Journal said, citing US officials and other sources familiar with the operation.
Search-and-rescue teams were also stationed there to recover downed Israeli pilots if necessary. According to the report, the base was nearly exposed in early March after a local shepherd spotted unusual helicopter activity in the Iraqi desert.
Iraqi troops were dispatched to investigate, but Israeli forces allegedly carried out airstrikes to prevent them from reaching the site.
Iraq later filed a complaint to the United Nations over the attack, initially believing the US was responsible. A source cited by the Journal said American forces were not involved.
The Journal reported that the installation was built with the knowledge of the United States, though Reuters said it could not independently verify the claims. There was no immediate public response from the Israeli prime minister’s office, Reuters added.
The operation offers a rare glimpse into how Israel sustained a lengthy bombing campaign against targets roughly 1,000 miles away inside Iran. Analysts quoted in the report said the remote western Iraqi desert has long been used by military forces as a strategic staging ground because of its sparse population and proximity to Iran.
This story originally appeared in the JC Israel Briefing. You can sign up to receive the briefing daily here.
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