U.S urges Defence contractors (V2X) workers to evacuate from Kuwait and Iraq over worries of Iran-backed attacks

Defence affairs - Def-Geopolitics

The intervention follows reporting by the Guardian that V2X employees were stationed at US military bases in Kuwait, and at Martyr Brigadier General Ali Flaih airbase and Erbil in Iraq. Employees claimed having inadequate protections, receiving limited communications from the company about evacuation plans and being pressured to remain in the Middle East.

In Iraq, workers say they are targets of Iran-allied attacks, and one employee was killed in a night-time drone attack in March.

On 9 April, representatives of the US Department of State held a meeting with members of V2X leadership during which concerns were raised about local militia launching an attack on the Martyr Brigadier General Ali Flaih airbase, two sources said. The company has a Logistics Civil Augmentation Program contract to provide base operating support and security services in Iraq in a $252m deal.

“The US government had a meeting with the company today questioning why Americans are still on base, asking if the articles in the Guardian are true,” said one source, speaking on the condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals from the company. “V2X told the government that they had to keep them there to ‘please the client’, and the company was told, ‘You know they’ll kill them. It’s just too dangerous.’”

The government officials at the meeting asked if the company had contacted US Central Command (Centcom) – the combatant command of the US Department of Defense responsible for military operations – for help evacuating its staff, the source said. The government representatives also ordered an airplane to be returned to base in case of an emergency evacuation, said a second source.

The state department did not respond to a request for comment.

At the Martyr Brigadier General Ali Flaih airbase, also known as the Balad airbase, employees interviewed say there are no plans to evacuate them. Should they try to leave, V2X management has said it will be regarded as a “voluntary evacuation” and they will lose their jobs, because the security situation is not dire enough, according to sources and messages seen by the Guardian. Efforts to keep workers in Iraq are due to the company’s fears that the Iraqi government will end the contract, sources allege.

However, workers interviewed said they hear and see drone activity and gunfire most days and nights, which is affecting their mental health and ability to sleep.

“The overall regional threat environment, particularly for US personnel, facilities and energy infrastructure, remains assessed as VERY HIGH, with minimal warning time for escalation,” an email sent to employees on 14 April said.

The email added that Iranian-aligned proxy groups retain the capability and intent to conduct attacks against US-associated targets within Iraq. “As such, the current lull in activity should be viewed as temporary and potentially situational rather than indicative of reduced threat,” it said.