Republican Guard (Iraq)

File:Republicanguard.jpg

Iraqi President Saddam Hussein talks with Republican Guard officers in Baghdad on 1 March 2003, 20 days before the invasion.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Iraqi News Agency/AP.

The Iraqi Republican Guard (Template:Langx) was a branch of the Iraqi military from 1969 to 2003, which existed primarily during the presidency of Saddam Hussein. Initially a praetorian guard unit tasked with the sole purpose to protect the president of Iraq, it grew exponentially during the Iran-Iraq War, transforming into an elite force of the Iraqi Armed Forces. It later became known as the Republican Guard Corps, and then the Republican Guard Forces Command (RGFC) with its expansion into two corps. The Republican Guard was disbanded in 2003 after the invasion of Iraq by a U.S.-led international coalition.

The Republican Guard were the elite troops of the Iraqi army directly reporting to Hussein, unlike the paramilitary force Fedayeen Saddam, and the regular Iraqi Army. They were better trained, disciplined, equipped, and had higher salaries than ordinary Iraqi soldiers, receiving bonuses, new cars, and subsidized housing.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Formation

Template:Story Formed in 1969, it was originally created to be a presidential guard. Its primary objective was to maintain the stability of the regime and provide protection against internal and external enemies. During the Iran–Iraq War, it was expanded into a large military force. It was officially dissolved in 2003, as per CPA Order 2 in the wake of the invasion of Iraq by a U.S.-led international coalition.<ref>Template:Usurped</ref>

The force's last commander was Qusay Hussein, the younger son of Saddam Hussein. Saddam Hussein was so confident about the capability of the guard that he had said: "In history when they write about Napoleon's Guard, they will arrange them next to the Republican Guard of Iraq."<ref name="Kevin M. Woods">Template:Cite book</ref>

Because of their elite status Republican Guards received better equipment and uniforms than their regular Army counterparts, and could often be identified by distinctive markings or items of head dress. Members of the regular Republican Guards conventionally wore a scarlet-colored triangle insignia on both shoulders of their uniforms (sometimes backed with white material to form a white border around the edge of the triangle); they also wore black berets as did some Army personnel, but as a distinctive marking a scarlet ribbon was often sewn to the right of the National cap badge to distinguish bravery in combat and/or loyalty to the Hussein regime. The Special Republican Guards wore a maroon beret with the national eagle device, and a special variation of the triangle shoulder insignia in maroon with green Arabic lettering. The bright red qardoon (shoulder cord) distinguished Republican Guards as well. A similar cord with green and red bands was also worn by the Special Republican Guards.

Operational history

Iran–Iraq War

Initially, the Guard had limited capabilities; however, during the Iran–Iraq War, it was expanded to five brigades, which was initially mostly used in counterattacks, notably in Operation Dawn-4. By 1986, the war had exhausted Iraq, with both Iran and Iraq suffering heavy casualties. Iran had by then captured the Al Faw Peninsula and gradually pushed Iraqi forces beyond the pre-war border and captured territory inside Iraq, repulsing counterattacks by the Republican Guard. This, coupled with another defeat at the Battle of Mehran, caused the Iraqi Ba'ath Party to convene the Ba'ath Extraordinary Congress of July 1986.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> During this Congress, the Ba'ath Party decided on a new strategy to overhaul the Iraqi military and utilize Iraq's manpower capability. This decision allowed for the drafting of thousands of Iraqis, who were sent to military summer camps.

With this massive influx of manpower, the Republican Guard expanded to somewhere between 28-33 brigades which were led by loyal officers drawn from the Iraqi military. This force then conducted the Tawakalna ala Allah Operations, leading to the eviction of the Iranians from occupied Iraqi territory, resulting in the liberation of Al-Faw, as well as allowing for renewed major offensives into Iran.

1980–1988 Order of Battle

The order of battle according to Iranian sources was as follows:<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

• 1st Mechanized Brigade
• 2nd, 10th Armored Brigades
• 3rd Special Forces Brigade
• 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 16th, 17th Infantry Brigades (sometimes as mechanized units)
• 11th Commando Brigade

There are some claims of units with names that are unknown.

Persian Gulf War

Between the invasion of Kuwait and the Persian Gulf War ("Operation Desert Storm"), the number of Republican Guard formations was expanded and the Guard was reorganized. The Republican Guard Forces Command was also created during this period. At the beginning of the Persian Gulf War, it consisted of the following units:<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

• Republican Guard, Template:Small<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • 1st Republican Guard Corps, deployed in southern Iraq and northern Kuwait, consisted of:
    • 1st Hammurabi Armoured Division, CO Major General Qais Abd al-Razaq.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
    • 2nd al-Medinah al-Munawera Armoured Division
    • 3rd Tawakalna ala-Allah Mechanised Division
    • 4th Al Faw Motorized Infantry Division
  • 2nd Republican Guard Corps deployed south of Baghdad consisted of:
    • 5th Baghdad Mechanised Division, a square division of four brigades, was able to be split into two small half-divisions
    • 6th Nebuchadnezzar Motorized Infantry Division
    • 7th Adnan Motorized Infantry Division<ref group=a>Named after a cousin of Saddam Hussein</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Deployed outside of the corps structure were various other units including:

• 8th As Saiqa Special Forces Division - contained a marine brigade, a parachute brigade, and a special forces brigade. The marine brigade was deployed on Kuwait's nine islands, all of which with the exception of Failaka Island are uninhabited. The brigade was headquartered on Bubiyan Island

The Republican Guard also included two Corps Headquarters, the Allah Akbar Republican Guard Operations Command, and the Fat'h al-Mubayyin Republican Guard Operations Command, separate artillery detachments and numerous field support units.

Between the invasion of Kuwait and the start of the war on 17 January 1991, four more RGFC internal security divisions had been formed which remained behind in Iraq. All of these units were motorised infantry. The names of only three of them were identified: the Al-Abed, Al-Mustafa ('The Elect') and Al-Nida Divisions ('The Call'). They may have conducted operations against Kurdish forces in the north.

Invasion of Kuwait

File:Insignia of the Iraqi Anti Aircraft Unit of the Republican Guard.svg

The insignia of the anti-aircraft unit of the Republican Guard.

By 1 August 1990, there were more than 100,000 Iraqi troops with up to 700 tanks on the Kuwaiti border.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

On 2 August 1990, the Republican Guard units commenced the invasion of Kuwait, which lasted two days.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The Kuwait army strength was 16,000,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> so on paper Iraqi forces outnumbered the Kuwaitis 7 to 1. However, the actual ratio was far worse; the initial attack was swift,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> swift enough for the Kuwaiti military personnel on leave to be unable to report on time.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The attack was conducted by eight RGFC divisions (two armoured, two mechanized, three motorised infantry and one special forces). The main thrust was conducted from the north down the main Iraq-Kuwait road, later famous as the Highway of Death, by the 1st Hammurabi Armoured Division, with the Nebuchadnezzar Infantry division following; the Tawakalna Mechanised and Al Faw Infantry Divisions advanced on the flanks. The supporting attack from the west was led by the Medina Armoured Division, followed by the Adnan Infantry Division and the Baghdad Mechanised Division. Commandos deployed by helicopters joined the attack on Kuwait City.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

After the invasion, the Republican Guard was withdrawn and redeployed into strategic reserve positions in northern Kuwait and southern and central Iraq.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Desert Storm

File:2S1 Gvozdika of the Iraqi Republican Guard during Operation Desert Storm 3.JPEG

A dug-in 2S1 Gvozdika 122mm self-propelled howitzer of the Iraqi Republican Guard abandoned during Operation Desert Storm, 28 February 1991.

File:2S1 Gvozdika of the Iraqi Republican Guard during Operation Desert Storm.JPEG

Close-up of the same vehicle.

During the Persian Gulf War, the U.S. VII Corps assembled in full strength and launched an armoured attack into Iraq early Sunday, 24 February 1991, just to the west of Kuwait, taking Iraqi forces by surprise. Prior to the ground offensive, the Iraqi Republican Guard had been attacked relentlessly by US warplanes but managed to shoot down and damage a number of the attackers. On 15 February, the Iraqi Republican Guard shot down two A-10 Warthogs and damaged another, which alarmed USAF General Chuck Horner, who was forced to call off further A-10 attacks on these divisions.<ref>"On 15 February, when the Republican Guard shot down two A-1Os and damaged another, Horner pulled the Warthogs off the Republican Guard." Airpower advantage: planning the Gulf War air campaign, 1989-1991, Diane Therese Putney, p. 253, Air Force History and Museums Program, U.S. Air Force, 2004</ref> Simultaneously, the U.S. XVIII Airborne Corps launched a sweeping "left-hook" attack across the largely undefended desert of southern Iraq, led by the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment and the 24th Infantry Division (Mechanized). Once the allies had penetrated deep into Iraqi territory, they turned eastward, launching a flank attack against the Republican Guard.

Both sides exchanged fire, but the Republican Guard divisions, worn down by weeks of aerial bombardment, proved unable to withstand the Allied advance. The Republican Guard participated in some of the largest tank battles in US history including the Battle of Medina Ridge, Battle of Norfolk, and the Battle of 73 Easting against the U.S. VII Corps.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>VUA Citation</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> During the latter battle US veterans later reported coming under heavy small-arms fire with bullets bouncing off their vehicles, having been attacked by several dismounted detachments of the Tawakalna Division.<ref>"At 73 Easting, for example, 2nd ACR crews reported large volumes of small arms fire rattling off their vehicles during the assault, which means that Iraqi troops stayed at their weapons, returning fire, even as U.S. tanks passed within a few hundred meters of their positions (i.e., within small-arms range). In fact, some Republican Guard infantry are known to have remained at their posts, concealed, until U.S. attackers had actually driven through their positions, only then emerging to fire short range antitank rockets at the vehicles from behind. Heavy weapons fire was also received. Although large-caliber hits were rare, multiple Iraqi tank gun rounds were observed falling near U.S. vehicles." Victory Misunderstood</ref> Several rifle companies of the Tawakalna Division counterattacked under the cover of darkness, in an attempt to recover lost positions.<ref>"Perhaps most important, the Tawakalna division not only defended itself when attacked, but also counterattacked the 2nd ACR after being driven from its positions. After nightfall the Iraqis struck the northernmost of the three U.S. cavalry troops engaged, attacking in multiple, reinforced company-strength waves, and supported by dismounted infantry." Victory Misunderstood</ref> The US won with minimal losses while inflicting heavy losses on the Iraqi Army, but elements of the Republican Guard divisions were able to withdraw back into Iraq, shooting down three US warplanes and a rescue helicopter in the process.

In early April 1991, Colonel Montgomery Meigs, the commander of the 2nd Brigade of the 1st Armoured Division, paid his respects to his former enemy's Medina Division reporting that, "These guys stayed and fought."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The Medina Division shot down an A-10 Thunderbolt II in the fighting for Medina Ridge on 27 February 1991, and other Republican Guard units were responsible for the destruction of a US Marine Corps Harrier, a USAF F-16 and a US Army UH-60 Blackhawk that day.<ref>"The Iraqis had skillfully dug in and camouflaged their firing line and placed a formidable protective ring of antiaircraft guns around it. One ZSU-23-4 managed to shoot down an American A-10 aircraft." Certain Victory: The U.S. Army in the Gulf War, Robert H. Scales, p. 298, Potomac Books, Inc, 1998</ref><ref>"The Allied air campaign suffered its most disastrous day of the war. Lieutenant Olson was killed when his A-10 was shot down over Medina Ridge. Marine Captain Reginald Underwood also lost his life when his Harrier was shot down; and Air Force Captain William Andrews was also shot down over Republican Guard positions." The Gulf War Chronicles: A Military History of the First War with Iraq, Richard Lowry, p. 199, iUniverse, 2008</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Between the Gulf War and the 2003 Iraq War

All the eight Republican Guard divisions involved in fighting during the Gulf War and the "Tawakalna" Division were disbanded due to losses. The remaining formations led the suppression of the 1991 uprisings in northern and southern Iraq - the Kurdish insurgency in the north and the Shi'ite uprising in the east. During these times, there were numerous accusations of the use of poison gas, rape and torture. The Hammurabi and Medina divisions surrounded Karbala with tanks and artillery, then shelled the city for one week, killing thousands and destroying entire neighborhoods.

Though it was reduced to a strength of seven or eight divisions, the RGFC was reconstituted, taking equipment from Army heavy divisions. Journalist Sean Boyle wrote a number of articles for Jane's Intelligence Review, including on the Republican Guard, during the 1990s. In September 1997 he wrote that the Northern Corps had four divisions - Adnan Mechanised Division (Headquarters (HQ) Mosul) with the 11, 12, 21 Brigades; Baghdad Infantry Division (HQ Maqloob Maontin, Mosul Governate) 4, 5, 6 Brigades; Al Madina Al Munawara Armoured Division (Al Rashedia Camp/Al Taji Camp) 2, 10, 14, 17 Brigades; and the Al Abed Infantry Division (Khaled Camp, Kirkuk) with the 38, 39, and 40 Brigades.<ref>Sean Boyle, article in Jane's Intelligence Review, September 1997.</ref> The Southern Corps had three divisions including the Hammurabi Division.

2003 U.S. Invasion

See article: Iraq War

File:FROG-7.JPEG

An Iraqi Republican Guard FROG-7 captured by U.S. Marines (2003).

The Republican Guard was subordinate to the "Special Security Apparatus of the State" and not to the Ministry of Defence as was the regular Iraqi Army. It was split into two Corps, one for the defense and control of northern Iraq, called "Allah Akbar Operations Command", composed of infantry and armoured units, and the "Fat'h al-Mubayyin Operations Command" composed primarily of mechanized units, which was located in the southern part of the country. In 2002, it was reported that the Republican Guard and the Fedayeen Saddam were both training for urban warfare and guerrilla warfare.

The Republican Guard then consisted of between 50,000 and 60,000 men (although some sources cite up to 80,000), all volunteers, and some 750 Soviet T-72 and Asad Babil tanks and scores of T-55 and T-62 tanks, along with other mechanized vehicles. A further 90-100 T-72 tanks were operated by the Special Republican Guard. These forces were intentionally placed far from the capital for averting a possible rebellion against the regime. The members of this body of the army were provided with better pay, equipment, and training. They formed a special corps, with the ability to buy houses, while also being given other privileges to ensure loyalty to the regime.

On 23 March, 2003, the 2nd Al Medina Armored Division and 6th Nebuchadnezzer Mechanized Division tasked with defending the Karbala Gap fought well, disrupting a strong attack conducted by the 11th Aviation Group ("11th Attack Helicopter Regiment"), damaging thirty Apaches and shooting down one,<ref>"On 23 March 2003, three days after the onset of the Iraq war, 31 Apache helicopters of the 11th Attack Helicopter Regiment (some organic, some attached) set out to deplete the armour and air defenses of the Iraqi Medina Division near Karbala. As was doctrine, they flew low in packs toward their objective. However, en route they became ensnared in 'flak traps' - storms of small arms fire, rocket-propelled grenades, and man-portable missiles, originating from rooftops. This ad hoc air defense effort, which was reminiscent of Somali tactics ten years earlier, had probably been triggered by Iraqi pickets equipped with either cell phones or low-power radios. The fire brought down one of the Apaches and damaged all the others sufficiently to compel their return to base. The experience dampened command interest in attempting helicopter deep attack thereafter." Military Intervention and Common Sense: Focus on Land Forces, Lutz Unterseher, Carl Conetta, pp. 94-95, Commonwealth Institute, 2009</ref> later capturing the crew consisting of David Williams and Ronald Young, both chief warrant officers.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> This delayed advances from the Apache unit, as the helicopters were under-repair.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> At least 2 Apaches of the helicopter regiment were damaged beyond repair.<ref>"With visibility down to zero, the heavily damaged machines made their finals on instruments, some crash-landing and being written off, others undergoing weeks of repair." Asia Pacific Defence Reporter, p. 124, Asia-Pacific Defence Publications, 2004</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On 2 April 2003, the Iraqi units positioned around Karbala shot down a U.S. Army Sikorsky H-60 Black Hawk helicopter, killing seven soldiers and wounding four.<ref>"On 2 April 2003, a U.S. Army Sikorsky H-60 Black Hawk helicopter was shot down near Karbala, killing seven soldiers and wounding four others. This event appeared to indicate a significant enemy presence in the city. The Encyclopedia of Middle East Wars: The United States in the Persian Gulf, Afghanistan, and Iraq Conflicts, Spencer C. Tucker, p. 672, ABC-CLIO, 2010</ref> Iraqi forces also shot down an FA-18 Hornet near Karbala around 8.45 AM local time.<ref>"On 2 April a navy FA-18 was shot down west of Karbala, Iraq." Leave No Man Behind: The Saga of Combat Search and Rescue, George Galdorisi, Thomas Phillips, p. 519, Zenith Imprint, 2008</ref><ref>"The plane from the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk in the Persian Gulf went down just before midnight Wednesday while on a bombing mission near Karbala, a city 50 miles south of Baghdad where fighting raged between U.S. forces and the Republican Guard. A search team was immediately launched. Other aircraft reported seeing surface-to-air missiles and anti-aircraft fire in the area where the plane disappeared, said Lt. Brook DeWalt, a spokesman for the Kitty Hawk ... Iraqi television broadcast pictures Thursday of what it said was the wreckage and Iraqi Information Minister Mohammed Saeed Al-Sahaf claimed the aircraft was shot down by the Saddam Fedayeen, Iraq's paramilitary force." Two Aircraft Down Over Iraq</ref>

On 7 April 2003, an Iraqi Special Republican Guard FROG-7 rocket or an Ababil-100 SSM missile exploded among the parked vehicles of the headquarters of 2nd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, killing two soldiers (Private 1st Class Anthony Miller and Staff Sergeant Lincoln Hollinsaid) and two embedded journalists (Julio Parrado and Christian Liebig), wounding 15 and destroying 17 military vehicles.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

On 8 April 2003, some 500 Iraqis (including Special Republican Guard<ref>"...about 500 Iraq forces took part in the counterattack. They were a combination of special Republican Guard, Fedayeen and Baath Party loyalists..." Iraqis Launch Counterattack In Baghdad; 50 Reported Killed</ref>) mounted a fierce counterattack across the Jumhuriya Bridge in Baghdad, forcing a part of the U.S. forces on the western side of Baghdad to initially abandon their positions, but the Iraqis reportedly lost 50 soldiers in the fight because of A-10 Warthogs deployed by the USAF.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Though, an A-10 attack plane was shot down while combating the counterattack by an Iraqi surface-to-air missile.<ref>"A-10 aircraft strafed both sides of the main road leading to the bridge and one aircraft was lost to a shoulder-launched missile." Cradle of Conflict: Iraq and the Birth of Modern U.S. Military Power, Michael Knights, p.326, Naval Institute Press, 2005</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

2003 Order of Battle

• 1st Republican Guard (Southern) Corps
  • 2nd Al Medina Armored Division; 2nd, 10th and 14th Brigades.
  • 5th Baghdad Mechanized Division; including the 4th, 5th, and 6th Motorized Brigades.
  • 7th Adnan Infantry Division; 11th, 12th, 21st, and Divisional Artillery Brigades.
• 2nd Republican Guard (Northern) Corps
  • Al Nida Armored Division; 41st, 42nd, 43rd Brigades.
  • 6th Nebuchadnezzer Mechanized Division; 19th, 22nd and 23rd Brigades.
  • 1st Hammurabi Armoured Division - possibly with Western Desert Force;<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 8th, 9th Mechanized Brigades, 18th Armored, Division Artillery Brigade.
• As Saiqa Special Forces Division - independent unit containing:
  • Special forces brigade
  • Paratrooper brigade
  • Marine brigade
  • Numerous Commando units

File:Al-Furayji, Mohan (2008) crop.jpg

Lt. General Mohan al-Furayji, former Republican Guard officer, as a commander of the new Iraqi Army on 5 August 2008.

On 2 April 2003, U.S. Army Brigadier General Vincent K. Brooks said that the Baghdad Division of the Iraqi Republican Guard had been "destroyed". Iraqi information minister Muhammad Saeed al-Sahhaf responded that this was another U.S. "lie".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The Republican Guard was officially dissolved on 23 May 2003 per Order 2 of the Coalition Provisional Authority under Administrator Paul Bremer.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In early 2004, British journalist Sean Langan confirmed that one of the local commanders of the guerrilla stronghold of Ramadi was a former Republican Guard officer.<ref>Mission Accomplished, Sean Langan, BBC, 2007</ref>

In late April 2004, a Pentagon report claimed that members of the Special Republican Guard had regrouped in the guerrilla stronghold of Fallujah.<ref>"A Pentagon intelligence report has concluded that many bombings against Americans and their allies in Iraq, and the more sophisticated of the guerrilla attacks in Fallujah, are organized and often carried out by members of Saddam Hussein's secret service ... in Fallujah, which is currently encircled by U.S. Marines, an estimated 1,500 to 2,000 hard-core insurgents, including members of the Iraqi Special Republican Guard who melted away under the U.S.-led offensive, are receiving tactical guidance and inspiration from these former intelligence operatives." Saddam agents blamed for plots</ref>

After dismissal, many members of the Republican Guard went on to join Sunni insurgent groups, including groups such as The Return (al-Awda), Naqshbandi Army (JRTN), Islamic Army in Iraq and the Islamic State.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In popular culture

• In the television show Lost, one of the main characters - Sayid Jarrah - served in the Republican Guard during the 1991 Persian Gulf War. During his service, he was a soldier, a communications officer and an interrogator. The majority of his background story revolves around the guilt he has felt towards people he's tortured in the past.
• The Republican Guard appeared in an episode of Deadliest Warrior as Saddam Hussein's personal bodyguards and elite troops as they fought against Pol Pot's Khmer Rouge.
• The video game, Conflict: Desert Storm series feature soldiers of the Ba'athist Iraqi Republican Guard as the main enemies.
• The video game BlackSite: Area 51 features the Iraqi Republican Guard as the main enemies in the first episode, Iraq.
• In the Tom Clancy video game Splinter Cell: Conviction, the Republican Guard is the enemy force in the level Diwaniya, Iraq. This level is a flashback to when the series protagonist, Sam Fisher, was captured by the Iraqi Republican Guard on the Highway of Death during the 1991 Gulf War.<ref>Archived at GhostarchiveTemplate:Cbignore and the Wayback MachineTemplate:Cbignore: Template:Cite webTemplate:Cbignore</ref>
• In the 2021 video game House of Ashes, one of the main protagonists is a Republican Guard officer in the 2003 war - Lt. Salim Othman (voiced by Nick Tarabay);<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> being the first playable Republican Guard soldier in a video game. Salim takes part in an ambush against US troops (mainly U.S. Marines) alongside his non-playable superior, Captain Dar Basri (voiced by Nabeel El Khafif). Lieutenant Salim is presented as a sympathetic character, while Dar is an unrepenting antagonist of the Americans.

See also

• Special Republican Guard
• Popular Army (Iraq)
• Republican guard
• List of protective service agencies
• Imperial guard
• Royal guard
• Presidential Security Service
• United States Secret Service

Further reading

• Watson, Bruce, Military Lessons of the Gulf War, Greenhill Books, London, 1993.(paperback)
• Jane's Intelligence Review: January 2002 (IAF/IAAC), February 1999(regional commands), January 1999 (SRG), September 1997 (Army/RG), February 1995, and March 1993

External links

• Key Components of the Iraqi Ground Forces
• The Republican Guard: outgunned and outnumbered, but they never surrender
• CNS article Template:Webarchive
• Global Security article
• FAS article
• Republican Guard gets last chance against U.S. forces (USA Today)