The Iraqi Republican Guard (IRG; ) 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.

Formation

The guard was formed in 1969, and 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. Following the invasion of Iraq by a U.S.-led international coalition, the Coalition Provisional Authority took control of the Iraqi government in 2003. The same year, an order was passed by the CPA which dissolved the republican guard.

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."

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 Before the Dawn, Operation Dawn-4, and Operation Badr (1985). 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. During this Congress, the Ba'ath Party decided on a new strategy to overhaul the Iraqi military and use Iraq's manpower capability. This decision allowed for the drafting of thousands of collegiate Iraqis, who were sent to military summer camps and whose schools were subsequently closed.

With this massive influx of manpower, the Republican Guard expanded to somewhere between 28 and 33 brigadesArmies of the Itan-Iraq War 1980–88 by Chris McNabb, Osprey Publishing, Elite 239, page 35, 18 January 2022, Armies of the Itan-Iraq War 1980–88 by Chris McNabb, Osprey Publishing, Elite 239, page 46, 18 January 2022, 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: 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 Iraqi 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: Republican Guard, 1st Republican Guard Corps, deployed in southern Iraq and northern Kuwait, consisted of: 1st Hammurabi Armoured Division, CO Major General Qais Abd al-Razaq. 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 DivisionNamed after a cousin of Saddam Hussein

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 but 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. Three of them, the Al-Abed ('The Worshiper'), Al-Mustafa ('The Elect') and Al-Quds ('Jerusalem') Divisions were motorized, and the Al Nida ('The Call') Armored Division was considered one of the most elite formations of the RGFC. They may have conducted operations against Kurdish forces in the north.

Invasion of Kuwait

By 1 August 1990, there were more than 100,000 Iraqi troops with up to 700 tanks on the Kuwaiti border.

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

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.

After the invasion, the Republican Guard was withdrawn and redeployed into strategic reserve positions in northern Kuwait and southern and central Iraq.

Desert Storm

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."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 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.VUA Citation 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."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 Several rifle companies of the Tawakalna Division counterattacked under the cover of darkness, in an attempt to recover lost positions."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 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.