Iraq's Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) have launched a large-scale military operation in the deserts of Najaf and Karbala aimed at tightening security and reinforcing troop deployments, amid public anger over reports alleging the presence of an Israeli force in the area during the recent war with Iran.
The operation, dubbed "Imposing Sovereignty", began on Tuesday across four axes in the desert regions linking the city of Karbala with the Nukhayb area near Iraq's western borders, according to a statement carried by the Iraqi state news agency INA. The PMF said the campaign was launched under the direction of Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani , who also serves as commander-in-chief of the armed forces, and was being overseen by Iraqi Army Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Abdul Amir Yarallah.
The force said units from the Middle Euphrates Operations Command, Karbala Operations Command and Anbar Operations Command were taking part alongside the PMF’s 2nd Brigade.
It added that troops were carrying out search and sweep operations reaching depths of up to 70 kilometres in desert and open areas under what it described as "highly professional" military plans.
The operation comes amid growing controversy in Iraq following media reports claiming that Israeli forces had operated from a secret logistical site in the Najaf desert during the Iran war.
Iraqi authorities previously said there were currently no foreign forces operating inside Iraq, but stopped short of directly denying reports of an earlier incident in which Iraqi army forces allegedly clashed with an "unauthorised force" on 4 March before lodging a protest with the United States.
Separately, Iraq's Defence Ministry said Yarallah had travelled on Tuesday to the Nukhayb region accompanied by senior military commanders to review the security situation and inspect military preparations in the area.
A military official from Najaf Operations Command told The New Arab that the campaign was intended both to secure the desert regions and reassure Iraqis that "there were no Israeli or other foreign sites or centres anywhere in Iraq".
The official added that Iraqi forces were implementing a new security deployment plan across desert and remote regions, with Tuesday’s operation forming part of that broader strategy.
Former Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi also weighed in on the controversy, warning of the seriousness of reports concerning an alleged secret military base in the Najaf desert.
"If these media reports are proven true, Iraqis deserve full transparency and accountability without evasion or justification," Kadhimi said in a statement.
"A state that raises slogans of sovereignty and security cannot be surprised by events of this scale occurring on its territory," he added.