Tel Aviv, May 10 -- Israel set up a covert military outpost in the Iraqi desert to support its air campaign against Iran and later carried out airstrikes against Iraqi troops who came close to discovering the facility, according to The Wall Street Journal, citing people familiar with the matter, including US officials.

As per the news report the clandestine installation was built shortly before the outbreak of hostilities with the knowledge of the US. The base, according to the report, housed Israeli special forces personnel and functioned as a logistical hub for Israeli Air Force operations targeting Iran.

The WSJ report stated that search-and-rescue teams were stationed at the site to respond in the event Israeli pilots were shot down...