Israel built a secret military base in a remote part of the Iraqi desert to support an airstrike in the war against Iran, according to a Wall Street Journal report on Saturday evening.
Several people familiar with the matter, including top US officials, told the WSJ that the IDF built the outpost shortly before Operation Roaring Lion began in February. It housed special forces from the Air Force and served as a logistics facility. IDF troops were stationed there in case pilots were shot down over enemy territory.
The Jerusalem Post could not verify the report at this time.
IDF nearly launched airstrikes against Iraqi troops who discovered secret base
The report also noted that the IDF nearly launched strikes against Iraqi troops that had almost discovered the secret base.
On March 4, a local shepherd spotted unusual activity, including helicopter flights, and tipped off the Iraqi military.
One official told the WSJ that the IDF drove the Iraqi military away with airstrikes. One Iraqi soldier was killed in the incident.
A US source told the WSJ that American forces were not involved in the matter.
Baghdad condemned the incident at the time and went so far as to file a complaint with the United Nations.