In May 2026, open-source Chinese intelligence, military, defense, and security reports and analyses, along with several military think tanks affiliated with the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), detected unusual military activity in the western Iraqi desert. This activity suggested the presence of a secret Israeli military base, which had garnered significant attention from Chinese military research centers due to the tensions and repercussions of the potential Iran-US war. Chinese military and intelligence analyses confirmed that this Israeli base had been constructed before the outbreak of the Israeli-American war against Iran, serving as an advanced logistics center to support Israeli air operations and house special forces and search and rescue teams. The secret Israeli base was discovered after an Iraqi shepherd observed unusual activity (helicopters and nighttime movements) in the area and reported it. When Iraqi forces went to investigate, they were targeted by airstrikes (allegedly Israeli), which prevented their approach and resulted in the death of an Iraqi soldier. Based on available Chinese military data, the existence and location of this secret Israeli military base in the western Iraqi desert (specifically the Najaf and Samawah desert regions, near Al-Tanf) are confirmed. According to Chinese intelligence analyses, this secret Israeli military base served as a logistical center and forward operating base for the Israeli Air Force and its commando units (Shaldag), supporting air operations against Iran and providing search and rescue teams for pilots. This was all done with full American support, funding, cover, and protection. This was corroborated by Iraqi Lieutenant General Qais al-Muhammadawi, Deputy Commander of Joint Operations in Iraq, who reported observing an unknown force operating with advanced capabilities in the western Iraqi desert. However, other Iraqi military sources later denied the existence of a permanent Israeli military base in western Iraq, indicating that these movements were temporary.
Chinese intelligence agencies concluded that this secret Israeli military site was established before the war with tacit American approval and that American forces either concealed or ignored its presence. Therefore, Chinese intelligence agencies worked to dismantle and uncover the true nature and methods of operation of this base (its role in surveillance, intelligence gathering, and field reconnaissance). This secret Israeli base nearly came to light in early March 2026, following a report from a local shepherd about unusual helicopter movements. This prompted the deployment of Iraqi forces, who were subsequently targeted by airstrikes from the base (resulting in the death of an Iraqi soldier). Chinese geostrategic analysis relied on satellite imagery of the area surrounding the secret Israeli military base in Iraq. This imagery revealed an abandoned dirt airstrip in the Najaf Desert, which had been activated and was being used as an Israeli support base, particularly against Iran. Chinese intelligence analysis was intensified based on available indicators, including extensive monitoring of the Israeli military base using several Chinese satellites deployed in the region, such as the Mizar Vision system. These Chinese satellites monitored Israeli and American intelligence and military movements, detecting the use of Israeli drones and helicopters operating from this location. Chinese tracking and monitoring systems, in cooperation with their Iranian counterparts, targeted this Israeli military base near Tehran’s borders to pinpoint Israeli logistical support locations. With Chinese tracking and monitoring systems tracking all images and direct Israeli movements, Chinese intelligence, military, defense, and security analyses documented Israeli airdrop operations and all other uncoordinated movements in western Iraq, as well as monitored Israeli jamming and warning systems. As for the most prominent reactions and scenarios that actually unfolded, they included Iraqi denial. Despite published reports and leaks, Baghdad officially denied the existence of a permanent Israeli base with American support while acknowledging the occurrence of mysterious airdrop operations. This led to increased public and political anger within Baghdad. The news of the existence of a secret Israeli military base in western Iraq has sparked a wave of anger within Iraq, with parliamentary calls to investigate the violation of Iraqi national sovereignty, which can be considered a tool for settling scores, as pro-Iranian factions consider western Iraq an arena of American-Israeli intelligence activity to encircle Iran.
Chinese intelligence agencies and think tanks have attempted to thwart numerous Israeli air campaigns against Iran from within Iraq. This has been achieved through satellite surveillance. Chinese intelligence agencies and think tanks have monitored the base and its associated activities, such as temporary airstrips and special forces movements, using high-resolution satellite imagery believed to belong to Chinese companies like MizarVision & Earth Eye Co. This satellite imagery utilizes artificial intelligence to track direct US military targets. Chinese geospatial intelligence analysts have identified several locations and indicators of the Israeli base and military movements, including the discovery of a temporary Israeli airstrip on a dry lakebed near Al-Nukhaib in Anbar province, around the beginning of March 2026. This demonstrates the high-precision capabilities of Chinese intelligence and military agencies in tracking all Israeli movements. Simultaneously with entering into an indirect confrontation and an indirect intelligence war with Washington and Tel Aviv, analyses indicate that Iran has obtained Chinese satellite imagery to monitor American and Israeli sites. This makes China a crucial factor in providing Tehran with intelligence eyes in this war. This revelation represents a significant security breach for Israel, undermining its cover-up strategy in its operations and provoking official Iraqi anger due to the violation of Iraqi national sovereignty, thus opening a new chapter of escalation in the regional conflict.
Intelligence reports and satellite imagery analyses point to an increasing role for Chinese commercial satellite companies in monitoring American and Israeli military movements in the Middle East, including Iraq and Iran. Chinese companies (MizarVision and EarthEye) have been documented producing high-resolution images of sensitive military sites, which are believed to have helped Iran enhance its intelligence capabilities in the face of potential American and Israeli military strikes. Current military indicators in the Middle East region after a potential 2026 Iran War suggest that high-resolution images captured by Chinese commercial satellites, such as those of the Jilin-1 network, and satellites developed by Chinese companies like Earth Eye Co. and MizarVision, also based in China, have accurately monitored the movements of US and Israeli forces, military bases, and temporary airstrips used by Washington and Tel Aviv in Iraq and other areas. It is believed that these Chinese satellite images, targeting US and Israeli military sites and movements, have facilitated the monitoring and thwarting of Israeli and US special forces operations by providing real-time intelligence. This is in addition to American and Israeli concerns about Iran’s use of Chinese data, along with American and Israeli intelligence and military accusations against China. Among these accusations, as reported by the Financial Times, is that the Iranian Revolutionary Guard acquired a Chinese-made TEE-01B satellite in late 2024 and operated it to monitor American and Israeli bases in the Middle East, including military sites in Iraq, before and after drone and missile strikes. Here, satellite images from the Chinese company MizarVision show advanced artificial intelligence analysis for highly accurate (up to half a meter) monitoring of bases and airports, reducing the time required to detect targets, a process known militarily and in intelligence circles as the hybrid kill chain. However, this coincided with persistent Chinese denials. China officially denies these American accusations, and the Chinese Embassy in Washington stated that these American claims are inaccurate, declaring its opposition to the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. It should be noted that the US Treasury Department imposed sanctions on Chinese companies accused of supplying Iran with satellite imagery.
Based on the preceding understanding and analysis, we understand that all the converging data indicates that Israel has indeed established a temporary operational site, not a permanent base, taking advantage of the geographical cover of the Iraqi desert. Chinese intelligence, military, and defense analyses contributed to detecting this activity, making it a significant and impactful breach in the context of the shadow war between Israel and Iran. The shadow war between Israel and Iran has witnessed a major shift, and here Chinese capabilities, especially in the field of space reconnaissance and geospatial artificial intelligence have played a crucial role in monitoring and documenting covert Israeli military activities in the Middle East, specifically in Iraq.
