| Special Republican Guard | |
|---|---|
| Al-Haris al-Jamhuri al-Khas | |
 Republican Guard Forces Command insignia | |
| Active | 1992–2003 |
| Country |
 Ba'athist Iraq |
| Allegiance | Iraqi Special Security Organization |
| Branch | Special forces |
| Type | Praetorian Guard |
| Size | 12,000 (2003) |
| Garrison/HQ | Baghdad |
| Engagements | 2003 invasion of Iraq |
The Iraqi Special Republican Guard (SRG) (Arabic language: Al-Haras al-Jamhuri al-Khas الحرس الجمهوري الخاص), also known as the Special Forces Brigade of the Presidential Palace,[1] Republican Guard Special Protection Forces,[2] or the Golden Division,[1] was an Iraqi praetorian guard that were an extension of the previous Iraqi royal guard, Which took its new name after the revolution of February 1963, The Special Republican Guard along with the Republican Guard were controlled by the same office, which was the command of republican guard office headed by Hussein Kamel Hassan Abdel-majid, After the 1991 Gulf War the charge for the republican guard which commanded the Republican guard & Special Republican Guard, and charged with protecting President Saddam Hussein, presidential sites, Baghdad, and responding to any rebellion, coup, or other threat to his power.[1]
The special Republican guard held a special status in the iraqi army, being mostly ex-republican guard veterans, they are given extensive training and armed with the most modern equipment in Iraq's inventory, in 2001, the Special republican guard was Re-formed and several branches were disbanded (It previously possessed more then 4 Combat brigades and armoured formations) and it was reduced into a number of infantry brigades and guard regiments and the Special Republican Guard tank battalion, special republican guards did not possess any specific or special insignias or symbols but were still easily identifiable by the uniforms of its members wearing khaki/dark green uniforms with Red/Orange shoes and special Identification cards retaining them the right to possess a firearm in special facilities or offices (particularly officers), most of its members wore Red or Maroon berets, but the Majority wore black berets, after the Occupation of Iraq the Special republican guard were disbanded by the order of
The last special republican guard commander was Brigadier general (عميد) Barzan Abdul-ghafor (Brother of Major general Rokan Abdul-ghafor, one of the private Companions of Saddam Hussein), The Special Republican Guard was officially dissolved on May 23, 2003 per CPA Order Number 2 in the wake of the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
Former members of the Special Republican Guard are suspected of carrying out insurgent attacks on coalition forces in Iraq, but also seem to form the cadre around which the various Sons of Iraq or Anbar Awakening home guard militias, funded, trained, equipped and operating alongside American forces are composed of.
Structure[]
The SRG had 13 or 14 battalions and ranged in troop strength from 15,000[2] to 26,000.[3] This may have fallen to 12,000 by 2002.[1]
- 1st Brigade
- 2nd Brigade
- 3rd Brigade
- 4th Brigade
- Air Defense Command
- Tank Command
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Special Republican Guard (SRG)". Globalsecurity.org. 2005-04-26. http://www.globalsecurity.org/intell/world/iraq/srg.htm. Retrieved 2008-01-27.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 al-Marashi, Ibrahim (2002-09). "Iraq's Security and Intelligence Network: A Guide and Analysis". Middle East Review of International Affairs. http://meria.idc.ac.il/journal/2002/issue3/jv6n3a1.html. Retrieved 2008-01-23.
- ↑ Boyne, Sean (1997-07-01). "Inside Iraq's Security Network". Jane's Intelligence Review. http://www8.janes.com/Search/documentView.do?docId=/content1/janesdata/mags/jir/history/jir97/jir00312.htm@current&pageSelected=allJanes&keyword=Inside%20Iraq's%20security%20network&backPath=http://search.janes.com/Search&Prod_Name=JIR&. Retrieved 2008-01-28.
Further reading[]
- Sean Boyle, 'Saddam's shield: the role of the Special Republican Guard,' Jane's Intelligence Review, January 1999
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The original article can be found at Special Republican Guard (Iraq) and the edit history here.