The US government has called on defense contractor V2X to evacuate its employees from Kuwait and Iraq, warning that they could be targeted by Iran-backed militias, according to four sources. The intervention follows Guardian reports that V2X employees were stationed at US military bases in Kuwait, and at Martyr Brigadier General Ali Flaih airbase and Erbil in Iraq, with claims of inadequate protections and limited evacuation plans.
On 9 April, US State Department representatives met with V2X leadership, raising concerns about local militia launching an attack on the Martyr Brigadier General Ali Flaih airbase. The company holds a $252 million Logistics Civil Augmentation Program contract for base support and security in Iraq. One source said the government questioned why Americans were still on base, and V2X replied they had to keep them there to 'please the client', to which officials responded, 'You know they'll kill them. It's just too dangerous.'
Employees at the Balad airbase report no evacuation plans, with V2X management threatening that any attempt to leave would be considered a 'voluntary evacuation' resulting in job loss, as the security situation is deemed not dire enough. Workers say they hear drone activity and gunfire most days and nights, affecting their mental health. An email to employees on 14 April assessed the threat environment as 'VERY HIGH', warning that Iranian-aligned proxy groups retain intent to attack US-associated targets in Iraq.
Earlier this month, an Iraqi soldier fired one of the base's own defence weapons into the camp, hitting a fortified wall. Workers have also raised concerns that bunkers provide inadequate protection, with V2X acknowledging requests for sandbagging and reinforcement. One employee expressed fear of not making it out alive, saying, 'Everyone is anxious and scared.'
