Reports of a secret Israeli base in Iraq have now led Baghdad to feel it must do something and stage a show of force, resulting in Iranian-backed militias sending forces to southern Iraq.
In the wake of the Wall Street Journal report about a “secret Israeli base” set up in Iraq during the Iran war, the Iraqi government and various militias are seeking answers. The WSJ had said that “Israel built and defended a secret Iran war base in Iraq.” Now Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces and the army say they have launched “a large-scale operation to impose sovereignty in the Najaf desert.” The PMF is made up of Iranian-backed militias. These include Kataib Hezbollah, and other groups that are sanctioned by the US as terrorist groups. The militias play a major role in Iraq. In recent months, they have been posted along the Syrian border.
Iraq initially reacted to news of the “secret” base by denying its existence. Then, claims emerged that Iraq had been warned by the US to stay away from an area in southern Iraq in March. There were reports that Iraqis had approached the site, resulting in an airstrike. Rumors on social media claimed an Iraqi shepherd was killed in March. This has now led Baghdad to feel it must do something and stage a show of force. The result is that the PMF has pushed to send its forces to southern Iraq.
Ostensibly, the PMF should have already been able to go to this area, so the reports in Iraq are more about portraying the PMF as essential to Iraq’s security.This comes amid US pressure to keep the militias and their members out of the new government being formed by the prime minister-designate Ali al Zaydi. The new prime minister was chosen two weeks ago after five months of uncertainty following the November 2025 elections. As such, this is a sensitive time for Iraq. (Read More)
