After a brutal attack on an oil refinery in Iraq, owned by the Chinese corporation Unicorp, mercenaries led by Owen Paddock create chaos. The refinery's Director of Operations, Professor Cheng, urgently seeks help from private security firms to carry out a rescue operation for the civilian employees trapped inside. Enter ex-special forces soldier Dragon Luo Feng, portrayed by the legendary Jackie Chan, who commands his private security firm to evacuate the civilians on the perilous Highway of Death, guiding them towards the safety of the Green Zone.
As the situation escalates, Cheng communicates with Feng, revealing that the mercenaries are not intent on destroying the refinery but rather aiming to take control of it. In a bold move, Cheng decides to shut down the refinery before embarking on a rescue mission alongside Feng. Meanwhile, a twist of fate reveals that Luo Mei, played by Chunrui Ma, is Cheng's assistant and also Feng's estranged daughter, complicating matters further.
Across the desert, former US Marine Chris Van Horne, represented by John Cena, reluctantly joins forces with his mercenary brother, Henry, seeking funds to repair a well in their drought-stricken village. Driven by desperation, Chris becomes entangled in a scheme where Henry falsely claims that they are hunting down a man responsible for the tragic deaths of five of their comrades from years back. The stakes rise when it becomes critical for Chris to acquire $100,000 to bribe Unicorp, the company controlling the village's dwindling water supply.
A feigned sandstorm creates an opportunity for the mercenaries to launch a surprise attack on the rescue convoy. After a fierce firefight, Feng uncovers that two out of eleven buses are missing, abducting Professor Cheng along with crucial authorization codes for the refinery. With urgency, he mobilizes his helicopters and seeks Mei's assistance in the search for the lost buses, but Chris has a different agenda, having fought off a pursuing helicopter with Cheng and disappearing into the desert canyons.
Eventually, Feng discovers the missing buses and finds that five engineers, including Cheng, have been taken hostage. Tension mounts as Chris confronts Henry about the kidnapping, revealing doubts about Cheng’s alleged responsibility for their comrades’ deaths. Everything comes to a breaking point when it is revealed that Owen is the mastermind behind the chaos, driven by a desire to reclaim his lost wealth after years of service to Unicorp.
Amidst the turmoil, Chris and Feng realize that they must join forces to combat Owen's mercenaries. Their alliance is solidified as they confront the upcoming dangers stemming from Owen’s plans to profit from the impending oil heist. With a dramatic rescue mission underway, they battle to save Cheng and her son, then turn the tide against Owen. In a climactic pursuit, Chris uses a modified truck to chase Owen, culminating in a thrilling car chase where justice is served.
Ultimately, Owen meets his end, providing a bittersweet resolution as Chris, having fulfilled his mission, decides to accept another opportunity to continue aiding those in need alongside Feng. The legacy of courage, collaboration, and redemption unfolds through their shared experiences on this gripping journey.
