By Palestine Chronicle Staff  

An Iraqi shepherd who reported suspicious military activity in the Najaf desert was later found dead after exposing a covert Israeli base.

Key Takeaways

• The Wall Street Journal confirmed Israel operated a secret military base in Iraq used during the war on Iran.
• Iraqi shepherd Awad Hadi al-Shummari was found dead after reporting suspicious military activity and alleged Israeli presence.
• Iraqi authorities deny that foreign bases exist in the country despite growing public outrage and calls for an independent investigation.

A Shepherd’s Warning

“Now, these are the American military bases. This is one base, about a kilometer away, and here is the other military base.”

This was the commentary by Iraqi shepherd Awad Hadi al-Shummari, who was describing a video he took of military bases in his country.

What al-Shummari assumed were American military bases were, in fact, a secret Israeli military base in Iraq.

The story went viral days ago after the Wall Street Journal reported that the covert site was nearly exposed in early March when a shepherd alerted Iraqi authorities to unusual helicopter activity and armed men operating in the area.

What remains less known, however, is that al-Shummari was later found dead inside his car soon after contacting authorities to report that he suspected one of the facilities was an Israeli military base.

According to Al-Araby TV, the Iraqi shepherd was discovered dead inside his burned vehicle in the same Najaf desert where he had reported the sighting.

Many have pointed the finger at Israeli intelligence for the killing of al-Shummari, though the Iraqi government continues to insist that no such military bases exist in the country. Yet the Wall Street Journal confirmed that al-Shummari’s suspicions were correct in a May 9 report titled Israel Built and Defended a Secret Iran War Base in Iraq.

The newspaper said the base was constructed “just before the war started with the knowledge of the US” and served as a logistical hub for Israeli military operations targeting Iran.

The Hidden Base: Report Exposes Secret Israeli Operations inside Iraq

According to the report, “search-and-rescue teams were positioned there in case Israeli pilots were downed,” while Israeli special forces also operated from the facility.

Many Iraqi social media users have blamed the Iraqi government for failing to recognize that Israeli and other foreign military bases were established on Iraqi territory. Others demanded justice for al-Shummari, who is increasingly being hailed as a hero for refusing to remain silent while his country was allegedly being violated by Israel and the US.

It is worth noting that al-Shummari’s original report to Iraqi authorities took place on March 5, just five days after the US and Israel launched their aggression against Iran, and nearly two months before the Wall Street Journal published its findings.

“He was unarmed and had no power; he was a simple and honorable shepherd who refused to remain silent when he discovered a secret military base being built on the soil of his homeland,” social media activist Hussein al-Mahmadawi wrote.

“Al-Shummari, may God receive him in His infinite mercy, fulfilled his duty toward the homeland by informing the authorities of the suspicious Israeli movements at the price of his own assassination,” he added.

Covert Operations and Iraqi Fallout

According to the Wall Street Journal, Iraqi soldiers traveling in Humvees toward the location later came under heavy attack.

“It appears there was a certain force on the ground before the strike, supported from the air, operating beyond the capabilities of our units,” Iraqi Joint Operations Command Deputy Commander Lt. Gen. Qais al-Muhammadawi told Iraqi state media.

“This reckless operation was carried out without coordination or approval,” he added.

🚨 CONFIRMED: A shepherd near Al-Nukhaib, Iraq spotted Israeli helicopters & alerted the army. When soldiers investigated, Israel struck them, killing 1 Iraqi soldier. A secret Israeli base in the Anbar desert, used during the Iran war, has now been exposed. 🇮🇶 pic.twitter.com/3Cto8k3IU9

— Irfan Ahmad (@Irfuu_) May 13, 2026

The attack reportedly killed one Iraqi soldier and wounded two others.

Iraq later submitted a complaint to the United Nations attributing the incident to the United States, though US officials cited by the newspaper denied any involvement.

The report said the desert outpost enabled Israel to position rescue and special operations teams closer to Iranian territory during the conflict.

Israeli air force special forces trained for operations behind enemy lines were reportedly stationed at the facility.

The newspaper also referenced comments made in early March by outgoing Israeli Air Force commander Tomer Bar, who alluded to covert wartime operations.

“These days, fighters from special units of the air force are conducting special missions which could ignite the imagination,” Bar wrote in a letter to personnel.

(PC, Al-Araby TV, WSJ)