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Republican Guard Forces Command insignia

The Iraqi Special Republican Guard (SRG) (Arabic: Al-Haris al-Jamhuri al-Khas‎), also known as the Special Forces Brigade of the Presidential Palace,^[1] Republican Guard Special Protection Forces,^[2] or the Golden Division,^[1] 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.^[1]

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.^[3]

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.

[edit] Structure

The SRG had 13 or 14 battalions and ranged in troop strength from 15,000^[2] to 26,000.^[4] This may have fallen to 12,000 by 2002.^[1]

1st Brigade
2nd Brigade
3rd Brigade
4th Brigade
Air Defense Command
Tank Command

[edit] References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "Special Republican Guard (SRG)". Globalsecurity.org. 2005-04-26. http://www.globalsecurity.org/intell/world/iraq/srg.htm. Retrieved 2008-01-27.
^ ^a ^b al-Marashi, Ibrahim (2002-09). "Iraq's Security and Intelligence Network: A Guide and Analysis". Middle East Review of International Affairs. http://meria.idc.ac.il/journal/2002/issue3/jv6n3a1.html. Retrieved 2008-01-23.
^ Coalition Provisional Authority Order Number 2: Dissoulution of Entities
^ Boyne, Sean (1997-07-01). "Inside Iraq's Security Network". Jane's Intelligence Review. http://www8.janes.com/Search/documentView.do?docId=/content1/janesdata/mags/jir/history/jir97/jir00312.htm@current&pageSelected=allJanes&keyword=Inside%20Iraq's%20security%20network&backPath=http://search.janes.com/Search&Prod_Name=JIR&.

Armed Iraqi Groups in the Iraq War and the Civil war in Iraq

Insurgents

Now-defunct Baathist rebels and insurgents

Iraqi Security Forces

Militias and others

Nationalist Salafies

Islamic Army in Iraq (Al-Jaish Al-Islami fil-Iraq)
Sufi Naqshbandi Iraqis (Naqshabandiya Army)
Iraqi Islamic Resistance Front (JAAMI Iraqi nationalists)
Jaish al-Mujahideen
Mujahideen Battalions of the Salafi Group of Iraq
Islamic Salafist Boy Scout Battalions (Kataab Ashbal Al Islam Al Salafi)
Mohammad's Army (aka Jeish Muhammad)
A guerrilla group opposed to the coalition forces, composed primarily of Sunnis believed to have Baathist ties.

Pan-Arab Nationalists

Nasserites

Jihadist Salafies

Islamic State of Iraq (till Nov '06, Mujahideen Shura Council)
Umbrella organization and de facto state
- Al Qaeda in Iraq
- Jeish al-Fatiheen (Conquering Army)
- Jund al-Sahaba (Soldiers of the Sahaba)
- Katbiyan Ansar Al-Tawhid wal Sunnah (Brigades of Monotheism and Religious Conservatism)
- Jeish al-Taiifa al-Mansoura (Army of the Victorious Sect)
- Monotheism Supporters Brigades
- Saray al-Jihad Group
- al-Ghuraba Brigades
- al-Ahwal Brigades
Jama'at al-Tawhid wal-Jihad
A now-defunct militant organization led by al-Zarqawi preceding AQI.
Jamaat Ansar al-Sunna (formerly Jaish Ansar al-Sunna)
Ansar al-Islam
Black Banner Organization (ar-Rayat as-Sawda)
Asaeb Ahl el-Iraq (Factions of the People of Iraq)
Wakefulness and Holy War
Abu Theeb's group
Jaish Abi Baker's group

Baathists

Fedayeen Saddam ("Saddam's Men of Sacrifice")
A paramilitary organization loyal to the former Baathist regime of Saddam Hussein.
The Return (al-Awda)
composed of former Ba'ath Party officials, intelligence agents, former members of the Republican Guard, the Special Republican Guard and Fedayeen Saddam militia.
General Command of the Armed Forces, Resistance and Liberation in Iraq
Iraqi Popular Army
New Return
Patriotic Front
Political Media Organ of the Ba‘ath Party (Jihaz al-Iilam al-Siasi lil hizb al-Baath)
Popular Resistance for the Liberation of Iraq
Al-Abud Network

Iraqi Army
The Iraqi Army is a component of the Iraqi Security Forces tasked with assuming responsibility for all Iraqi land-based military operations following the 2003 Invasion of Iraq.
Iraqi Air Force
Iraqi Police
The Iraqi Police are the organic civil police force of the Republic of Iraq. There are three main branches.
- Iraqi Police Service (IPS): Responsible for the day to day patrolling of cities around most crimes.
- National Police (NP): Paramilitary force for counterinsurgency, public disorder and counter terrorist tasks.
- Supporting Forces: Remaining police organizations, primarily the Department of Border Enforcement (DBE).
Facilities Protection Service
A paramilitary force responsible for protecting government buildings and facilities.

Shia militia

Mahdi Army (Jaish-i-Mahdi)(جيش المهدي)
The Mahdi Army is a militia force created by the Iraqi Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr in June of 2003.
Abu Deraa's Mahdi Army faction
In the fall of 2006, Abu Deraa and his supporters formed their own militia.
Badr Organization (originally Badr Brigade/Bader Corps) (منظمة بدر)
The armed wing of the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI).
Soldiers of Heaven
an armed Iraqi Shi'a sect.
Asaeb Ahl Al-Haq
Special Groups (Iraq) Iranian-backed militants

Kurdish militias

Peshmerga
- term used by Kurds to refer to armed Kurdish fighters.
Kurdistan Workers Party or PKK. A militant separatist organization whose goal is the creation of a Kurdish state. Currently taking refuge in Iraqi Kurdistan.
Party for a Free Life in Kurdistan or PJAK. A militant separatist organization whose goal is overthrowing the Islamic government of Iran. Currently taking refuge in Iraqi Kurdistan.

Sunni militias

Awakening groups
1920 Revolution Brigades
Jaish al-Rashideen
Islamic Front for the Iraqi Resistance (al-Jabha al-Islamiya lil-Moqawama al-Iraqiya - JAMI)
Hamas of Iraq

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