Republican Guard (Iraq)

"RGFC" redirects here. For the Scottish football club, see Rutherglen Glencairn F.C..

Iraqi Republican Guard
Republican Guard Forces Command insignia
Active	1969–2003
Country	Ba'athist Iraq
Allegiance	Ba'athist Iraq
Branch	Ba'athist Iraqi military
Type	Mechanized Infantry
Size	~70,000 - 75,000 ( as of 2002)
Colors	Red berets
Equipment	T-72 tanks Lion of Babylon tank AK-47
Engagements	Iran-Iraq War Second Battle of Al Faw Gulf War Invasion of Kuwait Battle of Khafji Battle of 73 Easting Battle of Phase Line Bullet Battle of Wadi Al-Batin 1991 uprisings in Iraq 2003 Invasion of Iraq Attack on Karbala Battle of Baghdad
Disbanded	May 23, 2003
Commanders
Notable commanders	Saddam Hussein Qusay Hussein Raad Majid al-Hamadani Majeid Hussein Al-Dulaimi
Aircraft flown
Attack helicopter	Mil Mi-24

Then-Iraqi President Saddam Hussein talks with Republican Guard officers in Baghdad on March 1, 2003. Iraqi News Agency/AP.

The Ba'athist Iraqi Republican Guard (Arabic: حرس العراقي الجمهوري‎ ""Ḥaris al-‘Irāq al-Jamhūriyy") was a branch of the Ba'athist Iraqi military from 1969 to 2003, primarily during the presidency of Saddam Hussein. It later became 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 Saddam Hussein, unlike the paramilitary force Fedayeen Saddam, and the ordinary Iraqi Army. They were easily recognizable by their red or Maroon berets, rather than the ordinary black of the Iraqi Army. Guard members were mainly, but not exclusively, Sunni Arabs rather than Shi'a Arabs, or Sunni Kurds. They were better trained, disciplined, equipped, and paid than ordinary Iraqi soldiers, receiving bonuses, new cars, and subsidized housing.

History

Formed in 1969, it was originally created to be the Presidential bodyguard, but was expanded into a large military force. It was disbanded along with the rest of Iraqi military after the U.S.-U.K. invasion of Iraq in 2003 by the Coalition Provisional Authority of the occupying U.S. and U.K. forces.

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."

Iran-Iraq War

Created in 1980 as an all-volunteer presidential guard during the Iran-Iraq War, which participated in its final part, with the primary objective of maintaining stability of the regime and protection against internal and external enemies. Initially, the Guard had limited capabilities; however, it was expanded to five brigades in 1986 with the start of the Iran-Iraq War.

By 1986 the war had exhausted Iraq with both Iran and Iraq suffering heavy casualties. Iran had by then captured Al Faw and generally pushed Iraqi forces back to the prewar borders. This caused the Iraqi Ba'ath Party to convene the Ba'ath Extraordinary Congress of July 1986. During this Congress the Ba'ath Party decided on a new strategy to overhaul the Iraqi military and utilize Iraq's manpower capability. The government closed all colleges and universities and began a mass mobilization program to force draft dodgers into the Iraqi Popular Army. This decision allowed for the drafting of thousands of university students, who were sent to military summer camps. In addition, the military began accepting volunteers from throughout Iraq.

With this massive influx of manpower the RG expanded to over 25 brigades which were led by loyal officers drawn from the Iraqi military. This force then conducted the Ramadan Mubarak operations which recaptured the Al Faw and initially stabilized the front and then pushed the Iranians back. note [( Ramadan Mubarak) means blessed Ramadan because the operation started at the first day of the muslims holy month of Ramadan ]

Invasion of Kuwait

By 1 August 1990, there were eight RGFC divisions (two armored, one mechanized, one special forces and four motorized infantry) between Basrah and the Kuwaiti border. With almost 140,000 troops, 1,500 tanks and infantry vehicles, plus artillery, and supply and support services.

On 2 August 1990, the Republican Guard spearheaded Iraqi forces in the Invasion of Kuwait which lasted four days. Iraqi forces outnumbered the Kuwaitis 26 to 1. They conducted the initial attack so quickly that much of Kuwait's military vehicles never left their motor pool. At 0200 hours, Iraq launched an invasion with four Iraqi Republican Guard divisions (1st Hammurabi Armoured Division, 2nd al-Medinah al-Munawera Armoured Division, 3rd Tawalkalna ala-Allah Mechanized Infantry Division and 6th Nebuchadnezzar Motorized Infantry Division) and Iraqi Army special forces units equivalent to a full division. The main thrust was conducted by the commandos deployed by helicopters and boats to attack Kuwait City, while the other divisions seized the airports and two airbases.

Afterwards, the RG was withdrawn and redeployed into strategic reserve positions.

The Republican Guard Forces Command was divided into two Corps, an independent Special operations forces division, twenty special forces (commando) brigades, and one naval infantry brigade. The

• 1st RG Corps, deployed in southern Iraq and northern Kuwait, consisted of:
  • two armored units, the Hammurabi and Medina Divisions;
  • one mechanized infantry unit, the Tawakalna Division; and
  • one motorized infantry unit the Al-Faw Division.
• 2d RG Corps deployed south of Baghdad consisted of
  • two motorized infantry units the Nebuchadnezzar and the Adnan Divisions.
• The independent mechanized infantry unit was the Baghdad Division, stationed in and around the Iraqi capital. This RGFC mechanized division was stationed in Baghdad throughout the Gulf War.
• Independent As Saiqa Special Forces Division
  • Marine Brigade deployed on Kuwait's nine islands, all of which with the exception of Failaka Island are uninhabited. The Brigade was headquartered on Bubiyan, with an area of 860 km² is the largest island in Kuwait and is connected to the rest of the country by a 2,380 m long bridge.

Gulf War

See articles Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm

Type 69-QM2 tank captured during the Gulf War at the Royal Australian Armoured Corps Tank Museum, Puckapunyal, Australia

The RG expanded further into the Republican Guard Forces Command and consisted of the following units during the Gulf War:^{[citation needed]}

• 1st "Hammurabi" Armoured Division
• 2nd "al-Medinah al-Munawera" Armoured Division
• 3rd "Tawakalna ala-Allah" Mechanised Division
• 4th "Al Faw" Mechanised Division
• 5th "Baghdad" Mechanised Division - a square division with four brigades based in and around Bagdad. Could form two Half-divisions.
• 6th "Nebuchadnezzar" Mechanised Division
• 7th "Adnan" Mechanised Division
• 8th "As Saiqa" Special Forces Division - contained a Marine Brigade, an parachute brigade, and a Special Forces Brigade.

The RG also included two Corps Headquarters, the Allah Akbar RG Operations Command", composed of infantry and armoured units. And the "Fat'h al-Mubayyin RG Operations Command," and numerous field support units, artillery, supply, etc., and many Commando units of company and battalion size. Between the invasion of Kuwait and the start of the war on January 17, 1991, four more RGFC internal security divisions were formed which remained behind in Iraq. Other sources report this development as 'in January 1991, the formation of five more Republican Guard divisions was announced—all motorized 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.

During the Gulf War, the U.S. VII Corps assembled in full strength and launched an armoured attack into Iraq early Sunday, February 24, just to the west of Kuwait, taking Iraqi forces by surprise. 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. Tank battles, including the Battle of Medina Ridge and the Battle of 73 Easting, flared as the Republican Guard attempted to retreat. The Allies won with minimal losses while inflicting heavy losses on the Iraqi Army.

Between the Iraq Wars

All the eight other divisions were involved in the fighting and the Tawakalna Division was disbanded due to losses. The other 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.

Though it was reduced to a strength of seven or eight divisions, the RGFC was reconstituted, taking equipment from Army heavy divisions.

Iraq War

See article: Operation Iraqi Freedom

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

It was subordinate to the "Special Security Apparatus of the State" and not to the Ministry of Defense (Iraq) 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 in urban warfare and in guerrilla warfare. It is believed by some 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.

The Republican Guard then consisted of between 50,000 and 60,000 men (although some sources indicate 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 away from the capital to avert a possible rebellion against the regime. The members of this body of the army were better paid, equipped, armed and trained corps that regularly get facilities to buy houses and other privileges to ensure loyalty to the regime and by extension Saddam.

During the invasion of Kuwait in 1990, the Republican Guard was responsible for carrying out the invasion and occupation, made without opposition by the Kuwaiti army. Once the international coalition it was decided to participate in the conflict, five divisions were withdrawn from Kuwait to the Iraqi border to serve as reserve forces, being replaced by regular army troops. The Nebuchadnezzar, Tawakalna, Adnan, Medina and Hammurabi divisions were punished harshly during Operation Desert Storm and still between 70% of men and 50% of the armored division escaped the siege of the coalition. In the second Gulf War, before U.S. troops had entered Baghdad and according to information, the CIA agents infiltrated through the initiative of volunteers. They came into contact with members of the first and second ladder of command of the Republican Guard to ensure an influx of American troops in Baghdad without problems. In that pact, allegedly signed by Donald Rumsfeld, included transportation insurance for themselves and their families outside Iraq, large sums of money, the promise of official positions in Iraq post-invasion for those who had not committed war crimes, including U.S. residency and citizenship for some key leaders. Of course, the soldiers were unaware that their superiors had agreed the surrender of Baghdad and even less the Fedayeen, which were abandoned to their fate once the armed conflict officially ended.

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. Army Brigadier General Vincent Brooks stated that the Baghdad division of the Iraqi Republican Guard had been "destroyed". Iraq information minister Muhammed Saeed al-Sahaf responded that this was another American "lie".

The RG was officially dissolved on May 23, 2003 per Order Number 2 of the Coalition Provisional Authority under Paul Bremer.

It is believed that some if not many members of the Republican Guard joined several of the insurgent groups currently operating in Iraq such as the Return.

In popular culture

• In the television show Lost, Sayid Jarrah, one of the main characters, served in the Republican Guard during the 1991 Persian Gulf War. During his service in the 1991 Persian Gulf War, 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 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.

• Texas comedian Bill Hicks referred to the "Elite Republican Guard" in some of his routines. He mentioned the media downplaying the U.S.'s success in Iraq during the 1991 Persian Gulf War because "We still have not faced the Elite Republican Guard". He went on to say that after the ineffectiveness of the Iraqi response to U.S. bombing campaigns, the media no longer used the term "Elite".

• 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.

See also

• Special Republican Guard
• Republican Guard
• Iraq
• List of protective service agencies
• Imperial Guard
• Royal Guard
• Swiss Guard
• Presidential Security Service
• United States Secret Service
• Waffen SS

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
• Global Security article
• FAS article
• Republican Guard gets last chance against U.S. forces (USA Today)