In February, just before the U.S. and Israel commenced military actions against Iran, Israel reportedly established a clandestine military base in the Iraqi desert. This outpost served as a logistics hub for the Israeli air force and housed special forces. According to a report by the Wall Street Journal, the base was nearly discovered by Iraqi troops early in the conflict, prompting Israeli airstrikes to deter them. The Iraqi government condemned these strikes, which resulted in the death of an Iraqi soldier, claiming they were conducted without coordination or approval. However, the U.S. was not involved in these airstrikes, despite Iraq's complaint to the United Nations attributing the action to foreign forces. The base's strategic location allowed Israel to respond quickly to emergencies and conduct air operations against Iranian targets during the conflict, with Israeli officials hinting at covert operations throughout the war. The establishment of such outposts is a common practice before military operations, according to security experts.