Iraqi Shepherd Killed After Discovering Secret Israeli Base
An Iraqi shepherd, Awad al-Shammari (29), died after his truck was sprayed with gunfire from a mysterious helicopter near al-Nukhaib, in the western desert of Iraq. He had previously reported suspicious activity-foreign soldiers and tactical tents at an emergency airstrip. The family believes he was deliberately taken out to keep Israel's military operations in the area under wraps.
The day after al-Shammari's report, an Iraqi intelligence unit sent to the site also came under heavy artillery attack, killing one soldier and wounding two others. The Iraqi Joint Operations Command internally concluded the attackers were Israeli military, but the public statement only mentioned foreign forces.
It came to light that Israel had set up an emergency base in the Iraqi desert since late 2024 to support air operations, including refueling and medical evacuations during the conflict. The existence of this base stirred suspicions that the US deliberately concealed the activity. Iraqi lawmakers slammed the disregard for sovereignty by foreign powers.
The Iraqi government is allegedly covering up the incident to avoid domestic political turmoil, given that Iraq legally considers Israel an enemy. Meanwhile, security officials claim they have no official information about Israeli military bases on Iraqi soil.
https://www.gelora.co/2026/05/