IRAQI REPUBLICAN GUARD

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 after 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 the elite troops of the Iraqi army under Saddam, unlike the paramilitary Fedayeen Saddam and the ordinary Iraqi Army and ground forces. They were easily recognizable because they had red boots instead of the ordinary black.
During the Iran-Iraq War, the Republican Guard were the first troops to infiltrate and attack Iran.
The Republican Guard was equipped with Soviet technology purchased from the Soviet bloc and the United States.
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.

Contents

Order of battle

In popular culture

See also

Order of battle

★ 1st Republican Guard (Northern) Corps

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★ 2nd ''Al Medina'' Armored Division

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★ 5th ''Baghdad'' Mechanized Division; a square division of four brigades, was able to be split into two small half-divisions.

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★ 7th ''Adnan'' Infantry Division

★ 2nd Republican Guard (Southern) Corps

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★ ''Al Nida'' Armored Division

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★ 6th ''Nebuchadnezzer'' Mechanized Division

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★ 1st ''Hammurabi'' Armored Division

★ ''As Saiqa'' Special Forces Division - independent unit containing:

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★ A Special Forces brigade,

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★ Paratroop Brigade,

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★ Marine Brigade and

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★ numerous Commando units.

★ Special Republican Guard

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★ 1st Brigade (Security)

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★ 2nd Brigade (Combat)

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★ 3rd Brigade (Combat)

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★ 4th Brigade (Armored)

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★ Air Defense Command (Two Regiments, Three Batteries)

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★ 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]

In popular culture

In the hit TV series ''Lost'', Sayid Jarrah, a main character, served in the Republican Guard during the Gulf War.
The video game series feature soldiers of the Iraqi Republican Guard as the main enemies.

See also

★ Regular Iraqi Army