Israeli troops operated from an abandoned airstrip deep in Iraq's desert during the early stages of the war against Iran, two Iraqi security officials confirmed to AFP on Sunday.
Wall Street Journal reporting first revealed the existence of this clandestine military installation. The US had approved the operation, sources familiar with the arrangement said.
Fighting broke out when Iraqi forces discovered the Israeli presence in the Najaf desert region. One Iraqi soldier died and two others sustained injuries in the clash.
An Iraqi security official explained what happened next. "Israeli forces built a base at an old airstrip," he told reporters, referring to infrastructure left behind by Saddam Hussein.
The exact duration of the Israeli presence remains unclear. Neither Israel nor the US has confirmed how long troops remained at the site.
Iraq found itself caught in Middle East tensions from day one of the conflict. US and Israeli strikes targeted Iranian-backed armed groups operating inside Iraqi territory.
Those same groups retaliated with hundreds of attacks across Iraq and the Persian Gulf region. American interests bore the brunt of the response.
A shepherd's report initially alerted authorities to suspicious military activity in the vast desert. That tip sparked an investigation that eventually led to the armed confrontation.
According to the Journal, Israel built the outpost just before war commenced. Special forces and logistical equipment for the Israeli air force were stationed there.
Israeli military officials declined comment when contacted by AFP. No statement emerged from Tel Aviv regarding the operation.
Iraq's government responded by referencing an earlier statement from March 5. At that time, deputy commander Qais al-Mohamadawi had spoken to state media about the incident.
He described how Iraqi troops were dispatched after reports of movement in the Najaf area. Intelligence suggested something unusual was happening in the remote location.
When Iraqi forces approached, they encountered intense aerial bombardment. The heavy firepower from above killed one soldier and wounded two others.
Backup units later swept through the area searching for answers. They found no personnel or obvious signs of occupation, Mohamadawi noted.
Yet he revealed something noteworthy about what troops observed. One unit appeared to be providing security while another conducted reconnaissance or assembled equipment.
Iraq never authorized foreign military presence at that location, he stressed. The activity violated Iraqi sovereignty over the territory.
A second security official provided additional specifics about the operation. He said an Israeli technical team worked under American military protection at the site.
Chinook helicopters were spotted landing and operating from the airstrip. This confirmed heavy-lift aircraft were being used to support the mission.
Personnel eventually departed, but equipment remained behind. A radar system designed for jamming purposes was among the gear left at the base.
Strategists chose the location with care. A hidden valley protected the installation from Iranian missile attacks and surveillance.
Najaf's desert sprawls across hundreds of kilometers with sparse population. Iraqi security forces struggle to monitor such vast and empty terrain effectively.
