By Admin 
In the desolate western desert of Iraq, the eyes of a shepherd saw the secret which Israel had kept hidden from the eyes of the world for more than a year. This is the story of 29-year-old Awad Al-Shammari, who was going to the nearby town of Al-Nukhaib to buy groceries in his pickup truck on March 3, 2026, but on the way he saw something that ended his life forever. This rule created an upheaval in the politics of the entire Middle East. In fact, Israel had built not one, but two secret military bases on Iraqi soil to carry out its military action against Iran…
What did the shepherd see and what happened next?
On the afternoon of 3 March 2026, Awad al-Shammari was heading towards al-Nukhaib. His family lived in a Bedouin camp in a desolate desert area of Iraq’s Anbar province. On the way, he saw something which was not at all normal in that wilderness – soldiers, helicopters, tents and a temporary landing strip were gathered around. Awad immediately understood that this was a secret military base. He immediately informed the regional command of the Iraqi Army.
But giving this information became a disaster for Awad. According to the report of the American newspaper The New York Times, when he was returning in the evening, an Israeli helicopter chased him in the air and fired continuously at his pickup truck. The truck caught fire and stopped in the sand. Awad died in this attack. Three eyewitnesses from the camp saw this horrific scene with their own eyes. Awad’s cousin Amir al-Shammari told the newspaper that he believed Awad had witnessed Israel’s military secret, which he was killed to hide.
First secret base: Wall Street Journal reveals
First of all, on May 10, 2026, the American newspaper The Wall Street Journal exposed this entire matter. The report said that Israel had built a secret military base in the desolate desert of Iraq to carry out its air operations against Iran. This base served as a logistics hub for the special forces of the Israeli Air Force. Here Israeli fighter planes could refuel during the attack on Iran, pilots could be treated and if any pilot fell in enemy territory, IDF soldiers were also deployed here to save him.
Another very shocking thing came to light in the report. When Awad al-Shammari informed about this base, a unit of the Iraqi Army reached the spot to investigate. On this the Israeli army carried out air strikes on Iraqi soldiers. An official of the Wall Street Journal told that the IDF drove back the Iraqi army with air strikes and during this time an Iraqi soldier was also killed. American sources clarified to the newspaper that the American military had no role in this matter.
Second Secret Base: Secrets of Operation Rising Lion
The story does not end here. The New York Times, quoting Iraqi officials in its report, said that the base that Awad had seen was just one. Israel had built another secret military base in the western desert of Iraq, about which no one was even aware. This second base was even older and more sensitive than the first one.
According to the report, this second base is even before the current war between America, Israel and Iran that started in February 2026. It was specially prepared for ‘Operation Rising Lion’ to be conducted in June 2025. This operation against Iran lasted for 12 days and support was given to the Israeli Air Force from this base. Israel had started preparations for this base at the end of 2024 itself. The location of this base is still kept completely secret.
How did the process of uncovering the secret happen?
The process of uncovering these secret bases began after the death of Awad al-Shammari. The Iraqi Joint Operations Command announced after the incident that a ‘foreign force’ had attacked Iraqi forces. However, talks between Baghdad and the US military command made it clear that the attacking forces were not ‘American’, which led to the conclusion that they were Israeli.
In late March, Iraq filed a complaint with the United Nations, saying that foreign forces were involved. However, Iraq blamed America for the air strikes. Meanwhile, many senior Iraqi officials accused America of helping and protecting Israel in running this secret base. At the same time, American sources say that they were aware of this base, but they had no active role in it.
After all, why did Israel build bases in Iraq?
According to experts, by building these secret bases in Iraq, Israel had reduced the distance to attack its biggest enemy Iran to a great extent. From these bases, it was getting important facilities like reducing flight time, refueling, providing medical services and logistics support during air strikes on Iran. These bases were working as ‘Forward Operating Base’ (FOB) for Israel.
An earthquake in Iraqi politics
The revelation of these secret bases has increased the problems for the already weak government of Iraq. It is a very shameful situation for Baghdad that for years a country, which it considers its enemy, was running a secret military base on its land. This revelation has made Iraq’s difficult balance between Iran and America even more complicated. According to the report of The New Arab, this case has created a big storm in Iraqi politics, in which the government is being accused of failing to protect the sovereignty of the country.