The Guardian: US urges defence contractor V2X to evacuate staff from Iraq, Kuwait

The United States has urged defence contractor V2X to evacuate its personnel from Iraq and Kuwait amid concerns that they could become targets of attacks by Iran-aligned armed groups.

State Department officials raised the issue with the company’s leadership following warnings about potential attacks on US-linked personnel and facilities, Caliber.Az reports, citing the Guardian.

Employees stationed at bases in Iraq and Kuwait reported security concerns, including increased drone activity and inadequate protection.

One worker was killed in March in a drone strike.

The US government has also questioned the company over why American personnel remain at exposed sites and has considered assisting with evacuation operations.

Some staff have already been withdrawn, but others remain in the region amid ongoing fears of further attacks by Iran-aligned groups.

The workers who were evacuated “were excited like little school kids”, a source said.

The company has a Logistics Civil Augmentation Program contract to provide base operating support and security services in Iraq in a $252m deal.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov