Theories about victory in modern wars are well established by different scientists with different arguments on how states or non-state actors should use their military forces to achieve strategic victory. However, few existing studies have explored tactical victory in modern warfare. The aim of this study is, therefore, to understand better the phenomenon of tactical victory by examining how American military forces conducted tactical operations during the starting phase of the Iraq War 2003 and the invasion of Baghdad. To analyze the relative tactical success gained by the American forces’ way of warfare, this study conducts a single case study design informed by Lars Henåker’s (2020) eight factors of tactical success in warfare. Based on a qualitative analysis of empirics from secondary sources, the study finds that the American military forces achieved all factors specified by Henåker to increase the chances for success in a war, compared to the Iraqi military forces that achieved far less. In conclusion, the study deepens our understanding of the tactical conduct of the American military forces in line with Henåker’s (2020) theory on tactical success in warfare.