Iraqi Republican Guard

The Iraqi Republican Guard (RG) was the core of the Iraqi military. There were between 50,000 and 80.000 troops in the Republican Guard itself, and an additional 15,000 troops in the Special Republican Guard (SRG). Not counting troops of the SRG, the Republican Guard fields 2 corps, consisting of 3 infantry divisions, 2 mechanized divisions, and 2 armored divisions. The Special Republican Guard consisted of 5 brigades.

The Republican Guard were regular, uniformed troops, unlike the paramilitary Fedayeen.

Prior to the 2003 invasion of Iraq, the Republican Guard was located along the Tigris, to the north and south of Baghdad. The SRG was positioned along the Tigris, just south of the capital.

Order of Battle

• 1st Republican Guard Corps
  • 7th Adnan Mechanized Division
  • 2nd Al Madina Armored Division
  • 5th Baghdad Infantry Division
  • Al Abed Infantry Division

• 2nd Republican Guard Corps
  • al Nida Armored Division
  • 6th Nebuchadnezzer Infantry Division
  • 1st Hamurabi Mechanized Division

• Special Republican Guard
  • Four motorized infantry brigades
  • One armored command
  • One air defense command

On April 2, 2003, U.S. Brigadier General Vincent Brooks claimed that the Baghdad division of the Iraqi Republican Guard has been "destroyed". Iraq information minister Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf responded that this was another American "lie".

See also: military of Iraq, Regular Army, US plan to invade Iraq