Israel has built two covert military sites in Iraq's western desert to support operations against Iran, according to a report by the New York Times.
The newspaper, citing Iraqi and regional officials, said a newly disclosed site has been one of two covert facilities used intermittently by Israel inside Iraq for more than a year.
The officials said the sites have been used for air support, refuelling and medical services and later played a role during the 12-day war against Iran in June 2025.
One of the sites came to light after Iraqi shepherd Awad al-Shammari encountered unusual military activity near al-Nukhaib in March.
He alerted local authorities after seeing helicopters, tents and what appeared to be a makeshift landing strip.
The report said Al-Shammari was later found dead, while Iraqi forces sent to investigate the area also came under fire, leaving one soldier dead and two others wounded.
Earlier this month, The Wall Street Journal also reported that Israel has established a secret military site in the region.
In remarks to Anadolu agency, a senior Iraqi security official has dismissed claims of Israeli military activity in Iraq's western desert as "false."
However, the official said Iraqi forces confronted a "mysterious" airborne operation in the al-Nukhaib desert area in March and that the incident had been handled at the time.
