Field marshal () was a five–star officer rank and the highest attainable rank in the Iraqi Armed Forces. Field marshal ranks immediately above colonel general, but is now generally considered to be obsolete. The rank was typically conferred ex officio upon the head of state of Iraq (typically either upon the King of Iraq or upon the President of Iraq). The last known person to be conferred this rank was former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein.
Nomenclature The rank used to be called 'Mushir' () which was in line with the militaries of other Arab countries however it was changed to 'Muhib''' following the 17 July Revolution.
Typically, the term 'al-rukn' () would follow 'Muhib''', this literally translates to 'staff' as an officer would've underwent further military education and would be awarded a red stripe at the base of their shoulderboards upon graduation from a staff college. However, due to most of the recipients obtaining this rank ex officio, this practice is technically redundant.
List of marshals Rank Date of Promotion PortraitName Date of death Notes23 August 1921Faisal I8 September 1933 Ex officio King of Iraq from 23 August 1921 to 8 September 19338 September 1933Ghazi of Iraq4 April 1939 Ex officio King of Iraq from 8 September 1933 to 4 April 1939 4 April 1939Abd al-Ilah 14 July 1958 Ex officio Crown Prince of Iraq from 4 April 1939 to 14 July 19582 May 1953Faisal II14 July 1958 Ex officio King of Iraq from 4 April 1939 to 14 July 19588 February 1963Abdul Salam Arif13 April 1966 President of Iraq from 8 February 1963 to 13 April 1966 Served in the First Arab–Israeli WarLate 1968Ahmed Hassan al-Bakr4 October 1982 President of Iraq from 17 July 1968 to 16 July 1979 Served in the Anglo–Iraqi War16 July 1979 Saddam Hussein30 December 2006 Ex officio President of Iraq from 16 July 1979 to 9 April 2003
References