In March 1991, with the first Gulf War concluding, Army Reserve Sergeant First Class Troy Barlow (Mark Wahlberg) finds himself in a harrowing situation as he shoots an Iraqi soldier who was attempting to surrender. The American soldiers, celebrating their newfound freedom, are caught in a festive atmosphere reminiscent of college days, indulging in revelry and drink. Alongside Private First Class Conrad Vig (played by Spike Jonze), Troy discovers a peculiar map hidden during the disarming of Iraqi soldiers, a decision that leads them to bypass their commanding officer in order to investigate this "Iraqi 'ASS' map" further with Staff Sergeant Chief Elgin (Ice Cube), a longtime friend.
As the excitement builds, Major Archie Gates (George Clooney), a seasoned Special Forces soldier nearing retirement, is entangled with journalist Cathy Daitch (Judy Greer) while navigating his own career transition. His path soon crosses with Adriana Cruz (Nora Dunn), an ambitious reporter desperate for her first Emmy. The search for a secret map rumored to expose Saddam's hidden treasures sets off a series of events that entwine various characters in a web of greed and danger.
As Troy, Conrad, and Chief analyze the map’s potential, Archie convinces them that it could lead to Saddam’s hidden bunkers, possibly filled with gold hoarded from Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait. > “One of these stashes could fund our retirements!” Archie persuades them, igniting their aspirations to stake a claim on the wealth. With a determination to avoid violence, Archie sets the plan into motion, using ceasefire orders to execute a rare operation without gunfire.
However, their operation does not go as smoothly as they hoped. Disaster strikes when they mistakenly blow up a milk truck while thinking it was a threat, leading to a chaotic reveal of the dire circumstances that the Iraqi villagers are enduring under Saddam's regime. The four soldiers stumble upon the gold in the bunkers, all while facing the precarious likelihood of Iraqi Republican Guard forces overhead. Tensions escalate, resulting in a grave firefight following their decision to liberate prisoners.
Separated from each other and in a shocking turn of events, Troy is captured, enduring harrowing interrogation tactics. In the meantime, the remaining trio, spurred on by their conscience, decide to help local rebels escape towards the Iranian border. The situation deteriorates, but amidst the chaos, they manage to rendezvous with Iraqi Army deserters, procuring stolen cars in an ingenious ploy to bolster their rescue efforts.
Amid the chaotic clashes and attempts to recover Troy, their escapades lead to serious injuries and tragic losses. As they work to bring Troy back from captivity, they find themselves entangled in even greater dangers as a helicopter pursuit ensues. With the odds stacked against them, Archie, always the strategist, begins orchestrating an escape plan that hinges on cooperation with the very forces they sought to evade.
In a heart-wrenching finale, the group is forced to reckon with their choices leading to the ultimate moment of sacrifice. After a narrow escape, capturing the hearts of those they aimed to rescue, they face the dire consequences of their good intentions.
This action-packed journey concludes with an epilogue revealing the aftermath of their daring exploits—the soldiers are cleared of any wrongdoing due to Adriana's relentless reporting. Archie and Chief reinvent themselves as consultants for military films, while Troy opens a carpet store, hinting at the bittersweet reality of their adventures that forever changed their lives. While it's underscored that the stolen gold was eventually returned to Kuwait, whispers linger about the portions that remain unaccounted for.
