Iraqi Republican Guard
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![Iraqi President Saddam Hussein talks with elite Republican Guard officers in Baghdad on March 1, 2003.[1] Iraqi News Agency/AP.](../../../upload/thumb/a/ac/Republicanguard.jpg/300px-Republicanguard.jpg)
The Iraqi Republican Guard (Arabic: الحرس العراقي الجمهوري) (RG) was the core of the Iraqi military. It was originally formed to be Saddam Hussein's bodyguard but was expanded into a large military force. It was disbanded during the Second Gulf War.
There were between 80,000 and 100,000 troops in the Republican Guard itself, and an additional 15,000-20,000 troops in the Special Republican Guard (SRG). Not counting troops of the SRG, the Republican Guard fielded two Corps, consisting of one infantry division, a Special Forces Division, two mechanized infantry divisions, and three armored divisions. The Special Republican Guard consisted of four brigades and two commands.
The Republican Guard were regular, uniformed troops, unlike the paramilitary Fedayeen Saddam. They were easily recognizeable because they had red boots instead of the ordinary black.
In 2002, it was reported that the Republican Guard and the Fedayeen Saddam were both training in urban warfare and in guerrilla warfare. It is largely believed that some of the former Republican Guard forces loyal to Saddam Hussein are still fighting on the ground as guerrilla insurgents after the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
[edit] Order of battle
- 1st Republican Guard (Northern) Corps
- 2nd Al Medina Armored Division
- 5th Baghdad Mechanized Division; a square division of four brigades, was able to be split into two small half-divisions.
- 7th Adnan Infantry Division
- 2nd Republican Guard (Southern) Corps
- Al Nida Armored Division
- 6th Nebuchadnezzer Mechanized Division
- 1st Hammurabi Armored Division
- As Saiqa Special Forces Division - independent unit containing:
- A Special Forces brigade,
- Paratroop Brigade,
- Marine Brigade and
- numerous Commando units.
- Special Republican Guard
- 1st Brigade (Security)
- 2nd Brigade (Combat)
- 3rd Brigade (Combat)
- 4th Brigade (Armored)
- Air Defense Command (Two Regiments, Three Batteries)
- Tank Command (Two Regiments)
On April 2, 2003, U.S. Brigadier General Vincent Brooks stated that the Baghdad division of the Iraqi Republican Guard had been "destroyed". Iraq information minister Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf responded that this was another American "lie".[2][3]
[edit] In popular culture
In the hit TV series Lost, Sayid Jarrah, a main character, served in the Republican Guard during the Gulf War.
The Conflict: Desert Storm video game series feature soldiers of the Iraqi Republican Guard as the main enemies.
[edit] See also
| Insurgents | Iraqi Security Forces | Militias and others | ||
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Shia militia
The Mahdi Army is a militia force created by the Iraqi Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr in June of 2003.
In the fall of 2006, Abu Deraa and his supporters formed their own militia.
The armed wing of the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI). Kurdish militia
Others (Organization for the Holy Struggle Foundation in Mesopotamia, a.k.a. al-Qaeda in Iraq) |
