Reports of Israeli Secret Base in Iraqi Desert Spark Widespread Controversy

Media reports about Israel establishing a secret base in the Iraqi desert before the war with Iran, and using it as a logistical and rescue station to support the Israeli Air Force, sparked widespread controversy between official Iraqi denial and American confirmations. According to the reports, the base was established with US knowledge, and included special forces and search and rescue teams, with the aim of reducing the flight distance for Israeli aircraft and securing rapid rescue operations in case any plane fell inside Iran. The Iraqi denial came clearly and repeatedly, reflecting a gap between the two narratives, as American sources rely on anonymous sources, while Iraq denies the presence of any Israeli base or fixed foreign forces, despite previously acknowledging an uncoordinated aerial landing, with speculation that it was American or of unknown identity. An Egyptian military expert confirmed that the presence of an Israeli military base in Iraq is possible, as there is an American presence and military bases that have existed for years, in addition to extensive American-Israeli coordination in the region. He pointed out that the report linked this to an incident when a shepherd reported strange movements in the western desert, so an Iraqi army force headed to the location and clashed with an unknown force, resulting in the death of an Iraqi soldier and the injury of two others. Baghdad described the incident at the time as a confrontation with an unlicensed force, while Iraqi sources stated that the site was an abandoned runway dating back to the Saddam Hussein era, and that the force that used it left later and left some equipment behind. The expert explained that militarily, the idea is not far-fetched, as the western Iraqi desert is vast and sparsely populated, and was previously used in American operations, making it a suitable area for any special operations or temporary support sites. He also explained that the Iraqi denial is expected politically, as Baghdad operates within a sensitive balance between Washington and Tehran, and any acknowledgment of the presence of an Israeli base on Iraqi territory could turn into a major sovereign and political crisis. He confirmed that so far there are no confirmed satellite images or announced physical evidence that settles the story definitively, so it remains within the framework of allegations supported by American reports in exchange for continuous official Iraqi denial. He emphasized that if the narrative is correct, all indicators suggest that the site was a temporary base and was evacuated after the operations ended. He concluded by saying that what happened confirms that the region has entered a phase where major powers move quickly and flexibly within security vacuums, making strengthening national security and complete control over the land a priority for any Arab state, and that countries that possess a strong army and full sovereignty over their lands are the ones capable of preventing any undeclared foreign presence or movements imposed on them under the cover of international balances and regional wars.