{"id":12550,"date":"2026-03-24T19:05:19","date_gmt":"2026-03-24T19:05:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hrnww.com\/?p=12550"},"modified":"2026-03-24T19:05:19","modified_gmt":"2026-03-24T19:05:19","slug":"u-s-forces-begin-evacuation-of-victoria-base-in-baghdad-amid-iranian-strikes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hrnww.com\/?p=12550","title":{"rendered":"U.S. Forces Begin Evacuation of Victoria Base in Baghdad Amid Iranian Strikes"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"model-response-message-contentr_84df6ca0d3360223\" class=\"markdown markdown-main-panel enable-updated-hr-color\" dir=\"ltr\" aria-live=\"polite\" aria-busy=\"false\">\n<p data-path-to-node=\"1\"><b data-path-to-node=\"1\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">BAGHDAD\/WASHINGTON (HRNW):<\/b> In a major strategic shift, the U.S. military has begun preparations to evacuate <b data-path-to-node=\"1\" data-index-in-node=\"108\">Victoria Base<\/b> (formerly Camp Victory) near Baghdad International Airport. According to reports from <i data-path-to-node=\"1\" data-index-in-node=\"208\">Al Arabiya<\/i> and regional security sources on March 24, 2026, the move comes as the facility faces an unsustainable surge in attacks from Iranian-backed militias.<\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"2\">The evacuation process has reportedly been marked by a &#8220;scorched earth&#8221; policy, with U.S. personnel seen destroying sensitive weaponry and heavy equipment on-site. This measure is intended to prevent advanced military technology from falling into the hands of hostile groups as the security perimeter around the airport deteriorates.<\/p>\n<h3 data-path-to-node=\"3\"><b data-path-to-node=\"3\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Escalation and Security Breakdown<\/b><\/h3>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"4\">The decision to withdraw follows a series of high-intensity strikes as part of the wider &#8220;Second Iran War&#8221;:<\/p>\n<ul data-path-to-node=\"5\">\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"5,0,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"5,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Intense Missile Barrages:<\/b> Over the past 48 hours, the base has been targeted by multiple waves of ballistic missiles and &#8220;suicide&#8221; drones. Reports indicate that at least one major building within the complex was struck, causing casualties among security personnel.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"5,1,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"5,1,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Iranian &#8220;True Promise&#8221; Operations:<\/b> The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has claimed that its &#8220;Operation True Promise 4&#8221; successfully penetrated regional air defenses, specifically targeting U.S. hubs like Victoria and Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"5,2,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"5,2,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Loss of Confidence:<\/b> Internal reports suggest a growing sense of vulnerability among U.S. troops in Iraq, with many expressing disillusionment over inadequate protection against the Iranian arsenal.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 data-path-to-node=\"6\"><b data-path-to-node=\"6\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Wider Diplomatic Fallout<\/b><\/h3>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"7\">The situation in Baghdad has reached a boiling point, prompting several diplomatic consequences:<\/p>\n<ul data-path-to-node=\"8\">\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"8,0,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"8,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Foreign Mission Withdrawals:<\/b> Following the U.S. decision for an &#8220;ordered departure&#8221; of non-essential personnel, Saudi Arabia, Germany, and Qatar have also begun reducing their diplomatic presence in the capital.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"8,1,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"8,1,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Iraqi Government Reaction:<\/b> The Prime Minister&#8217;s office has summoned both the U.S. Charg\u00e9 d&#8217;Affaires and the Iranian Ambassador to protest the violation of Iraqi sovereignty, as the country increasingly becomes a primary battlefield for the two powers.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"9\">While NATO has already confirmed a temporary relocation of its non-combat mission from Iraq, the departure from Victoria Base\u2014once the headquarters for U.S. operations in the country\u2014marks one of the most significant territorial concessions since the conflict began in late February.<\/p>\n<hr data-path-to-node=\"10\" \/>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"11\"><b data-path-to-node=\"11\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Support Independent Journalism:<\/b> At HRNW, we provide authoritative coverage of the shifting frontlines and diplomatic crises in the Middle East. Your support empowers our mission of factual and impactful reporting. Support us today at <a class=\"ng-star-inserted\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/search?q=https:\/\/hrnw.com\/support-us\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-hveid=\"0\" data-ved=\"0CAAQ_4QMahgKEwjSiPerjrmTAxUAAAAAHQAAAAAQygY\">hrnw.com\/support-us<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"12\">\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>\n<p id=\"pvc_stats_12550\" class=\"pvc_stats total_only  \" data-element-id=\"12550\" style=\"\"><i class=\"pvc-stats-icon medium\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" version=\"1.0\" viewBox=\"0 0 502 315\" preserveAspectRatio=\"xMidYMid meet\"><g transform=\"translate(0,332) scale(0.1,-0.1)\" fill=\"\" stroke=\"none\"><path d=\"M2394 3279 l-29 -30 -3 -207 c-2 -182 0 -211 15 -242 39 -76 157 -76 196 0 15 31 17 60 15 243 l-3 209 -33 29 c-26 23 -41 29 -80 29 -41 0 -53 -5 -78 -31z\"\/><path d=\"M3085 3251 c-45 -19 -58 -50 -96 -229 -47 -217 -49 -260 -13 -295 52 -53 146 -42 177 20 16 31 87 366 87 410 0 70 -86 122 -155 94z\"\/><path d=\"M1751 3234 c-13 -9 -29 -31 -37 -50 -12 -29 -10 -49 21 -204 19 -94 39 -189 45 -210 14 -50 54 -80 110 -80 34 0 48 6 76 34 21 21 34 44 34 59 0 14 -18 113 -40 219 -37 178 -43 195 -70 221 -36 32 -101 37 -139 11z\"\/><path d=\"M1163 3073 c-36 -7 -73 -59 -73 -102 0 -56 133 -378 171 -413 34 -32 83 -37 129 -13 70 36 67 87 -16 290 -86 209 -89 214 -129 231 -35 14 -42 15 -82 7z\"\/><path d=\"M3689 3066 c-15 -9 -33 -30 -42 -48 -48 -103 -147 -355 -147 -375 0 -98 131 -148 192 -74 13 15 57 108 97 206 80 196 84 226 37 273 -30 30 -99 39 -137 18z\"\/><path d=\"M583 2784 c-38 -19 -67 -74 -58 -113 9 -42 211 -354 242 -373 16 -10 45 -18 66 -18 51 0 107 52 107 100 0 39 -1 41 -124 234 -80 126 -108 162 -133 173 -41 17 -61 16 -100 -3z\"\/><path d=\"M4250 2784 c-14 -9 -74 -91 -133 -183 -95 -150 -107 -173 -107 -213 0 -55 33 -94 87 -104 67 -13 90 8 211 198 130 202 137 225 78 284 -27 27 -42 34 -72 34 -22 0 -50 -8 -64 -16z\"\/><path d=\"M2275 2693 c-553 -48 -1095 -270 -1585 -649 -135 -104 -459 -423 -483 -476 -23 -49 -22 -139 2 -186 73 -142 361 -457 571 -626 285 -228 642 -407 990 -497 242 -63 336 -73 660 -74 310 0 370 5 595 52 535 111 1045 392 1455 803 122 121 250 273 275 326 19 41 19 137 0 174 -41 79 -309 363 -465 492 -447 370 -946 591 -1479 653 -113 14 -422 18 -536 8z m395 -428 c171 -34 330 -124 456 -258 112 -119 167 -219 211 -378 27 -96 24 -300 -5 -401 -72 -255 -236 -447 -474 -557 -132 -62 -201 -76 -368 -76 -167 0 -236 14 -368 76 -213 98 -373 271 -451 485 -162 444 86 934 547 1084 153 49 292 57 452 25z m909 -232 c222 -123 408 -262 593 -441 76 -74 138 -139 138 -144 0 -16 -233 -242 -330 -319 -155 -123 -309 -223 -461 -299 l-81 -41 32 46 c18 26 49 83 70 128 143 306 141 649 -6 957 -25 52 -61 116 -79 142 l-34 47 45 -20 c26 -10 76 -36 113 -56z m-2057 25 c-40 -58 -105 -190 -130 -263 -110 -324 -59 -707 132 -981 25 -35 42 -64 37 -64 -19 0 -241 119 -326 174 -188 122 -406 314 -532 468 l-58 71 108 103 c185 178 428 349 672 473 66 33 121 60 123 61 2 0 -10 -19 -26 -42z\"\/><path d=\"M2375 1950 c-198 -44 -350 -190 -395 -379 -18 -76 -8 -221 19 -290 114 -284 457 -406 731 -260 98 52 188 154 231 260 27 69 37 214 19 290 -38 163 -166 304 -326 360 -67 23 -215 33 -279 19z\"\/><\/g><\/svg><\/i> <img decoding=\"async\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" alt=\"Loading\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hrnww.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/page-views-count\/ajax-loader-2x.gif\" border=0 \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>BAGHDAD\/WASHINGTON (HRNW): In a major strategic shift, the U.S. military has begun preparations to evacuate Victoria Base (formerly Camp Victory) near Baghdad International Airport. According to reports from Al Arabiya and regional security sources on March 24, 2026, the move comes as the facility faces an unsustainable surge in attacks from Iranian-backed militias. The evacuation&#8230;<\/p>\n<div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>\n<p id=\"pvc_stats_12550\" class=\"pvc_stats total_only  \" data-element-id=\"12550\" style=\"\"><i class=\"pvc-stats-icon medium\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" version=\"1.0\" viewBox=\"0 0 502 315\" preserveAspectRatio=\"xMidYMid meet\"><g transform=\"translate(0,332) scale(0.1,-0.1)\" fill=\"\" stroke=\"none\"><path d=\"M2394 3279 l-29 -30 -3 -207 c-2 -182 0 -211 15 -242 39 -76 157 -76 196 0 15 31 17 60 15 243 l-3 209 -33 29 c-26 23 -41 29 -80 29 -41 0 -53 -5 -78 -31z\"\/><path d=\"M3085 3251 c-45 -19 -58 -50 -96 -229 -47 -217 -49 -260 -13 -295 52 -53 146 -42 177 20 16 31 87 366 87 410 0 70 -86 122 -155 94z\"\/><path d=\"M1751 3234 c-13 -9 -29 -31 -37 -50 -12 -29 -10 -49 21 -204 19 -94 39 -189 45 -210 14 -50 54 -80 110 -80 34 0 48 6 76 34 21 21 34 44 34 59 0 14 -18 113 -40 219 -37 178 -43 195 -70 221 -36 32 -101 37 -139 11z\"\/><path d=\"M1163 3073 c-36 -7 -73 -59 -73 -102 0 -56 133 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