According to the report, the installation was built shortly before the outbreak of the US-Israeli war against Iran and operated with Washington’s knowledge. The base allegedly housed Israeli special forces personnel and functioned as a logistical and rescue hub for Israeli air operations targeting Iran.The Wall Street Journal said the site included search-and-rescue teams intended to recover Israeli pilots in the event aircraft were downed during missions over Iranian territory.

Reuters could not independently verify the report, and there was no immediate comment from Prime Minister’s Office of Israel following a request for response.The newspaper reported that the clandestine facility narrowly escaped discovery in early March after Iraqi state media cited a local shepherd reporting unusual military activity, including helicopter movements, in a remote desert area.

Iraqi security forces were subsequently dispatched to investigate, the report said, but Israeli forces launched airstrikes to prevent troops from approaching the site closely enough to expose the operation.The Wall Street Journal cited one source as saying the strikes were intended solely to keep Iraqi personnel at a distance from the outpost.

The report further stated that Iraq later filed a complaint with the United Nations alleging that foreign forces had conducted airstrikes on Iraqi territory and attributing the attack to the United States. However, the newspaper cited a person familiar with the matter who said American forces were not involved in the operation.

The alleged operation underscores the widening regional dimensions of the conflict between Israel and Iran, which has increasingly drawn neighboring states and strategic transit corridors into the confrontation.Iraq has repeatedly sought to avoid becoming a direct battleground in regional conflicts involving Iran, the United States and Israel, while balancing ties with Washington and Tehran amid persistent security pressures.