Habforce

Habforce was a British Army military unit created in 1941 during the Anglo-Iraqi War and still active during the Syria-Lebanon campaign during the fighting in the Middle East of World War II.

Habforce, short for "Habbaniya Force", was created from forces available in the British Mandate of Palestine in order to relieve RAF Habbaniya. On 4 May 1941, the British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, ordered General Sir Archibald Wavell, the Commander-in-Chief (C-in-C) Middle East Command, to create this force.

RAF Habbaniya was a Royal Air Force station at Habbaniya in the Kingdom of Iraq. As of 30 April, the small British garrison at Habbaniya had been under siege by strong Iraqi forces loyal to Rashid Ali. On 1 April, Rashid Ali and his anti-British supporters had staged a coup against the pro-British government of Regent Amir Abdul Illah and relations between the British and the government of Rashid Ali quickly deteriorated until, on 2 May, the British launched pre-emtive air attacks throughout Iraq.

Habforce was commanded by Major General John Clark. During the Anglo-Iraqi War, Habforce was organized into two parts: a flying column named Kingcol and the main body. The main body, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel John Nichols, comprised the Headquarters of the 1st Cavalry Division (elements), the 1st Battalion, Essex Regiment, the 60th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery, and one artillery battery of anti-tank guns, Royal Artillery. A detachment of the Arab Legion initially advanced ahead of Kingcol.