Iran’s hidden war room in Iraq: how Houthis and militias are building a new launchpad against Israel

A new report indicates that Iran is establishing a joint operational presence in Iraq, specifically in Jurf al-Sakhar, Babil province, involving Yemen's Houthi rebels and Iraqi militias. This initiative, detailed in late July 2026 by Asharq Al-Awsat and the Washington Institute, aims to create a new launchpad for drone and missile attacks against Israel, significantly reducing early-warning times due to Iraq's closer proximity. Houthi specialists are embedded with Iraqi factions, transferring drone expertise and utilizing established logistical corridors linking Syria, Iraq, and Yemen. The operation is designed to blur attribution, complicating Israel's response options, as attacks originating from Iraq with Houthi technology and mixed crews make responsibility difficult to assign. The Iraqi government has been unable or unwilling to dismantle these enclaves, prompting calls for Israel to expand intelligence coverage of financial channels, refine attribution models, and deliver unambiguous strategic messaging that hosting or facilitating attacks will incur substantial costs.