Iraq in May 2026: the most important developments in security
Iraq in May 2026 was the subject of reports about Israeli military activity on its territory. On 17 May, a New York Times investigation reported that Israel had operated two secret military bases in Iraq before its conflict with Iran, and that the sites had been kept hidden for months. An Iraqi farmer who accidentally discovered one of them was reported killed by Israeli forces. Other outlets described a camp set up in the Iraqi desert during the Iran war, and one report said Iraq played down the accounts while sending troops to search for the site.
Drones and strikes across Iraq's borders were a second theme. Reuters reported that Saudi Arabia and Kuwait had carried out covert strikes on Iraqi militias. On 17 May, Saudi Arabia said it had intercepted three drones that entered its airspace from Iraq. On 19 May, the United Arab Emirates said drones aimed at its Barakah nuclear plant had been launched from Iraqi territory; one struck near the facility, and no damage or casualties were reported. Explosions were also reported in Baghdad on 16 May.
In domestic politics, Iraq's parliament approved a new government in mid-May, and the prime minister vowed a state monopoly on arms. Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto pressed for a final withdrawal of Italian troops from Baghdad. A US operation was reported to have captured Mohammed Baqir al-Saadi, described as a Hezbollah leader in Iraq, and a Kataib Hezbollah commander was accused of planning attacks in New York City.
by WorldBrief & Maksim Micheliov | AI-generated summary
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