Iraqi authorities deny the existence of an Israeli camp in the Najaf and Anbar desert.
Iraqi authorities deny the existence of an Israeli camp in the Najaf and Anbar desert.
2026-05-19
Shafaq News – Baghdad
Iraqi authorities on Tuesday refuted claims of an Israeli military camp or base in the country, asserting that the Najaf and Anbar deserts are free of any such activity.
The Director of the Department of Relations and Media at the Ministry, Major General Miqdad Miri, said in a press conference attended by a correspondent from Shafaq News Agency: “We deny the existence of any camp for any other country in Iraq, and all that took place was an operation that took place during the 48 hours of the war on Iran.”
Miri added, “The Joint Operations Command has confirmed this matter, and there are pictures and documents that confirm that the deserts of Najaf and Anbar are free of any military bases.”
The New York Times revealed last Sunday the existence of two Israeli bases in the western Iraqi desert, confirming that preparations for the establishment of the base began in 2024.
Last week, MP Shaker Abu Turab al-Tamimi, from the Badr parliamentary bloc, said that the “American-Israeli” camp is still present in western Iraq, noting that Iraqi forces are not allowed to approach it.
However, the Joint Operations Command, through the head of the Security Media Cell, Lieutenant General Saad Maan, confirmed that no forces or military equipment were found during extensive search operations carried out by security forces in the deserts of Karbala and Najaf, following an incident that occurred on March 5, 2026, which witnessed a clash with unknown detachments that resulted in the death of one martyr and the injury of two security personnel.
shafaq.com
