Iraqi Special Republican Guard
Encyclopedia
The Iraqi Special Republican Guard (SRG) , also known as the Special Forces Brigade of the Presidential Palace, Republican Guard Special Protection Forces, or the Golden Division, was an Iraqi praetorian guard
founded in either early 1992 or March 1995 in Iraq
. The Special Republican Guard was controlled by the Special Security Organization
and charged with protecting President
Saddam Hussein
, presidential sites, Baghdad
, and responding to any rebellion, coup, or other threat to his power.
The Special Republican Guard received better pay and benefits than members of the Republican Guard and regular Iraqi Army
. In 2002 there were reportedly 12,000 members of the Special Republican Guard, drawn primarily from clans loyal to Saddam Hussein and his regime. As many as five brigades containing 14 battalions of 1,300-1,500 men each, and also included air defense, armored
, and artillery
were reported to be in existence at that time. 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 along-side American forces are composed of.
Praetorian Guard
The Praetorian Guard was a force of bodyguards used by Roman Emperors. The title was already used during the Roman Republic for the guards of Roman generals, at least since the rise to prominence of the Scipio family around 275 BC...
founded in either early 1992 or March 1995 in Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
. The Special Republican Guard was controlled by the Special Security Organization
Iraqi Special Security Organization
The Iraqi Special Security Organization was the most powerful Iraqi security agency under President Saddam Hussein and was responsible for personal security of high-ranking government officials and presidential facilities. Its director, Hani Abd Al-Latif Tilfah Al-Tikriti was the seventh most...
and charged with protecting President
President of Iraq
The President of Iraq is the head of state of Iraq and "safeguards the commitment to the Constitution and the preservation of Iraq's independence, sovereignty, unity, the security of its territories in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution." The President is elected by the Council of...
Saddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein Abd al-Majid al-Tikriti was the fifth President of Iraq, serving in this capacity from 16 July 1979 until 9 April 2003...
, presidential sites, Baghdad
Baghdad
Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...
, and responding to any rebellion, coup, or other threat to his power.
The Special Republican Guard received better pay and benefits than members of the Republican Guard and regular Iraqi Army
Iraqi Army
The Iraqi Army is the land component of the Iraqi military, active in various forms since being formed by the British during their mandate over the country after World War I....
. In 2002 there were reportedly 12,000 members of the Special Republican Guard, drawn primarily from clans loyal to Saddam Hussein and his regime. As many as five brigades containing 14 battalions of 1,300-1,500 men each, and also included air defense, armored
Armoured warfare
Armoured warfare or tank warfare is the use of armoured fighting vehicles in modern warfare. It is a major component of modern methods of war....
, and artillery
Artillery
Originally applied to any group of infantry primarily armed with projectile weapons, artillery has over time become limited in meaning to refer only to those engines of war that operate by projection of munitions far beyond the range of effect of personal weapons...
were reported to be in existence at that time. The Special Republican Guard was officially dissolved on May 23, 2003 per CPA Order Number 2
Coalition Provisional Authority Order Number 2
Coalition Provisional Authority Order Number 2: Dissolution of Entities signed by CPA civil administrator L. Paul Bremer on May 23, 2003, disbanded the Iraqi military, security, and intelligence infrastructure of President Saddam Hussein...
in the wake of the 2003 invasion of Iraq
2003 invasion of Iraq
The 2003 invasion of Iraq , was the start of the conflict known as the Iraq War, or Operation Iraqi Freedom, in which a combined force of troops from the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Poland invaded Iraq and toppled the regime of Saddam Hussein in 21 days of major combat operations...
.
Former members of the Special Republican Guard are suspected of carrying out insurgent attacks
Iraqi insurgency
The Iraqi Resistance is composed of a diverse mix of militias, foreign fighters, all-Iraqi units or mixtures opposing the United States-led multinational force in Iraq and the post-2003 Iraqi government...
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 along-side American forces are composed of.
Structure
The SRG had 13 or 14 battalions and ranged in troop strength from 15,000 to 26,000. This may have fallen to 12,000 by 2002.- 1st Brigade
- 2nd Brigade
- 3rd Brigade
- 4th Brigade
- Air Defense Command
- Tank Command
Further reading
- Sean Boyle, 'Saddam's shield: the role of the Special Republican Guard,' Jane's Intelligence ReviewJane's Intelligence ReviewJane's Intelligence Review is a monthly journal on military intelligence published by Jane's Information Group . Its coverage includes international security issues, ongoing conflicts, organized crime, and weapons proliferation....
, January 1999