Active 1992–2003 Size 12,000 (2003) Engagements 2003 invasion of Iraq Branch Special forces Engagement 2003 invasion of Iraq | Country Iraq Garrison/HQ Baghdad Headquarters Baghdad, Iraq Type of business Praetorian Guard | |
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Allegiance Iraqi Special Security Organization | ||
The Iraqi Special Republican Guard (SRG) (Arabic: الحرس الجمهوري الخاص ""Ḥaris al-‘Irāq al-Jamhūriyy al-Khas"), also known as the Special Forces Brigade of the Presidential Palace, Republican Guard Special Protection Forces, or the Golden Division, was an Iraqi personal security force 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.
Contents
History
In order to prevent a coup, Saddam Hussein forbade the Special Republican Guard (SRG) from coordinating with other forces, even the Republican Guard and no other units were ever allowed near SRG.
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 were suspected of carrying out insurgent attacks on coalition forces in Iraq, but also seemed to form the cadre around which the various Sons of Iraq or Anbar Awakening home guard militias, funded, trained, equipped and operated alongside American forces were 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 only 12,000 by 2002.