Official in Al-Sudani’s Office to "Al-Araby Al-Jadeed"

A report published by *Al-Araby Al-Jadeed* on May 11, 2026, reveals statements from a high-ranking official in the office of the outgoing Iraqi Prime Minister, Mohammed Shia al-Sudani. The official disclosed details regarding a secret Israeli site in the Najaf desert that served as a logistical support center during military operations against Iran.

The official confirmed that this presence was established with full American assistance and under its cover through the "International Coalition." He stated that Iraq was "deceived" by Washington, which failed to respect security agreements and exploited its relationship with Baghdad to serve Israel, taking advantage of an undeclared ban on providing Iraq with advanced air defense and detection systems.

The official—whose name was not disclosed by *Al-Araby Al-Jadeed*—revealed a grave incident that occurred on the night of March 4th. An Iraqi reconnaissance force was deployed following a report from a local shepherd regarding suspicious helicopter landings and military movements. However, the force came under heavy attack by attack helicopters about 4 kilometers before reaching the site, resulting in the death of one Iraqi soldier and the wounding of two others. Despite Baghdad submitting a formal protest and contacting the Joint Coordination Center, the American side neither responded nor denied the attack. At the time, the incident was classified as a routine American strike against PMF (Hashd al-Shaabi) units to conceal the reality of the forces on the ground.

The official explained that this force likely infiltrated from Syrian airspace across the Anbar desert, reaching a hidden valley in Najaf. At the same time, he cautioned against exaggerating the facility as a "permanent base," noting that such narratives serve Netanyahu’s claims of superiority. He emphasized that the presence was temporary and utilized rugged terrain for protection and camouflage.

In a related context, Member of Parliament Raed al-Maliki accused the United States of handing over Iraqi airspace to the Israeli side and issuing orders to shut down radars during the war. He characterized the establishment of this secret intelligence center as a grave sovereign breach that necessitates helding all national security and intelligence agencies accountable.