Report: Iran Set Up Secret Cells in Iraq for Drone Attacks on Gulf States

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have established secret cells in Iraq to carry out drone attacks against Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, Reuters reported Friday, citing unnamed sources. The report said the network was meant to support operations against Iran’s regional rivals, and that planning for the Iraqi bases began in late 2024.

The article comes amid renewed scrutiny of covert military activity in Iraq. Last month, The Wall Street Journal revealed a secret base allegedly operated by the IDF in Iraq, and The New York Times later reported that Israel had operated at least two bases in the Iraqi desert over the past year.

According to Iraqi security officials, the United States ordered Iraq to shut down its radar systems during two confrontations with Iran, “to protect American aircraft.” The Iraqi side said the base that was active in Iraq during the June 2025 war with Iran “proved to be very useful.”

Officials in Iraq said they had long suspected Israel was operating a base in the area and repeatedly asked the U.S. military for answers, but received no response. Separately, Saudi outlet Al Hadath reported last month, citing an Iraqi source, that an “unidentified” military presence was detected in western Iraq during the war with Iran, and that Washington formally told Baghdad to stay away from the area for security reasons.