Iraqi Republican Guard
![Former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein talks with elite Republican Guard officers in Baghdad on March 1, 2003.[1] Iraqi News Agency/AP.](http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en/thumb/3/3f/300px-Republicanguard.jpg)
The Iraqi Republican Guard (Arabic: الحرس العراقي الجمهوري) (RG) was the core of the Iraqi military.[citation needed] 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. 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, possibly, some older United States equipment.[citation needed]
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.
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]
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.
| Armed Iraqi Groups in the Iraq War and the Civil war in Iraq | |||
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| Insurgents | Iraqi Security Forces | Militias and others | |
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Shia militia
Kurdish militias
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