Peregraf- The Iraqi Army and the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) on Tuesday announced the launch of a joint security campaign named "Imposing Sovereignty" in the desert areas of Najaf and Karbala.
According to an official statement, the operation is being carried out across four axes and includes large-scale search and sweep missions involving intelligence units, explosives disposal teams, and support forces.
The campaign covers a distance of approximately 120 kilometers and aims to secure the road linking Karbala with the Nukhayb region.
Security forces are reportedly conducting operations reaching depths of up to 70 kilometers into the desert.
Reports of Foreign Military Presence
The operation comes amid reports and competing claims regarding foreign military activity in Iraq's western desert.
The reports intensified following a deadly clash in the region in early March, in which Iraq's Joint Operations Command (JOC) confirmed that one soldier was killed and two others were wounded after an Iraqi unit came under aerial fire and gunshots while conducting a search mission in the desert corridor between Karbala and Najaf.
On May 10, The Wall Street Journal reported that Israel had allegedly established a secret military outpost in Iraq's desert shortly before the US-Israel War on Iran began on February 28, reportedly with US knowledge.
Iraq Denies Unauthorized Forces
In response, Iraq's Joint Operations Command (JOC) issued a statement on Monday denying the presence of unauthorized foreign forces or military bases on Iraqi territory.
The command criticized what it described as "exaggerated statements made without knowledge of the facts" and warned that legal measures would be taken against individuals or groups spreading misleading information or claims related to Iraq's sovereignty and security institutions.
Iraq officially does not recognize Israel and maintains no diplomatic relations with it.
In May 2022, the Iraqi parliament passed legislation criminalizing normalization with Israel, with penalties that can include life imprisonment or the death penalty.
The latest operation reflects ongoing concerns over border security, sovereignty, and regional tensions linked to the US-Israel War on Iran.