Republican Guard (Iraq)

Iraqi Republican Guard
Republican Guard Forces Command insignia
Active	1969–2003
Country	Iraq
Allegiance	Saddam Hussein
Branch	Iraqi military
Type	Armored corps
Size	≈70,000–75,000 (as of 2002)
Colors	Red berets
Equipment	T-72 tanks Lion of Babylon tank AK-47
Engagements	Iran–Iraq War Operation Dawn-4 First Battle of al-Faw Battle of Mehran Second Battle of Al Faw Persian Gulf War Invasion of Kuwait Battle of Khafji Battle of 73 Easting Battle of Norfolk Battle of Medina Ridge Battle of Phase Line Bullet Battle of Wadi Al-Batin Battle of Rumaila 1991 uprisings in Iraq 2003 Invasion of Iraq Attack on Karbala Battle of Baghdad
Disbanded	May 23, 2003
Commanders
Honorable Supervisor of the Republican Guard	Qusay Hussein
Secretariat	Kamal Mustafa Abdullah
Chief of Staff	Sayf al-Din al-Rawi
Corps Commanders	Lt. Gen. Majid al-Dulaymi (I Corps Commander) Lt. Gen. Ra'ad al-Hamdani (II Corps Commander)
Notable commanders	Saddam Hussein Qusay Hussein Hussein Kamel al-Majid Saddam Kamel
Aircraft flown
Attack helicopter	Mil Mi-24

Lt. Gen. Majid al-Dulaymi (I Corps Commander)

Saddam Hussein

The Iraqi Republican Guard (Arabic: حرس العراق الجمهوري‎‎ Ḥaras al-‘Irāq al-Jamhūriyy) was a branch of the Iraqi military from 1969 to 2003, primarily during the presidency of Saddam Hussein. It later became 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 Saddam Hussein, unlike the paramilitary force Fedayeen Saddam, and the ordinary Iraqi Army. Guard members were mainly, but not exclusively, Sunni Arabs rather than Shi'a Arabs, or Sunni Kurds. They were better trained, disciplined, equipped, and paid than ordinary Iraqi soldiers, receiving bonuses, new cars, and subsidized housing.

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