5th Division (Iraq)
| 5th Division | |
|---|---|
|
|
| Active | 1959–2003 2005–present |
| Country |
 Republic of Iraq (1959–68) Ba'athist Iraq (1968–2003) Iraq (2005–present) |
| Allegiance |
Iraq
|
| Branch | Iraqi Army |
| Type | Motorized infantry |
| Size | Division |
| Part of | United States Forces – Iraq |
| Engagements | |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander |
Maj. Gen. Shakir Hulail Hussein al-Kaabi |
The 5th Division ('Iron Division') is a formation (military) of the Iraqi Army. The division is currently deployed in eastern Iraq – predominantly Diyala Governorate. Following the losses suffered by the Iraqi Army against the ISIS campaign in Northern Iraq, the Iraqi security forces became increasingly reliant on non-state militia units – the Popular Mobilization Forces. As of October 2015, it was claimed that the 5th Division reported to the PMF chain of command, instead of the official military hierarchy.
Originally formed in 1959 as a mechanised division, it would later fight in the Iran–Iraq War, and in the Persian Gulf War (including at the Battle of Khafji). The 3rd Armoured and 5th Mechanised Divisions, the assault force for the Battle of Khafji, had both been retrained in 1986–87 and had participated in many of the 1988 offensives. On the night of 29–30 January 1991, three of four battalion-sized task forces of the 5th Mechanised Division had been turned back by U.S. Marine covering forces, but the fourth moved into Khafji and was later destroyed there. On 30 January 1991 as the division crossed the frontier for the main attack, the 26th Armoured Brigade was trapped in a minefield and had a large amount of damage inflicted on it. The commander of the III Corps, Major General Salah Aboud Mahmoud, called the attack off as he believed it was impossible to execute the full plan.
In 1993, following a coup attempt, Saddam Hussein reportedly abolished all command posts at corps level, with the 5th Division, then reported to be at Mosul, one of the only six divisions to retain a command post. In September 1997 it was reported to be part of the 1st Corps, and be based in the Shuwan area under Staff Major General Sadoun Mahmud Sadoun. At that time it included the 15th, 20th, and 26th Mechanised Brigades. It then disintegrated during the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
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