- Iraqi Special Republican Guard
The Iraqi Special Republican Guard (SRG) ( _ar. Al-Haris al-Jamhuri al-Khas), also known as the Special Forces Brigade of the Presidential Palace,cite web |title=Special Republican Guard (SRG) |url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/intell/world/iraq/srg.htm |publisher=Globalsecurity.org |date=2005-04-26 |accessdate=2008-01-27] Republican Guard Special Protection Forces,cite news |first=Ibrahim last=al-Marashi |title=Iraq's Security and Intelligence Network: A Guide and Analysis |url=http://meria.idc.ac.il/journal/2002/issue3/jv6n3a1.html |publisher=Middle East Review of International Affairs |date=2002-09 |accessdate=2008-01-23] or the Golden Division, was an Iraqi praetorian guard founded in either early
1992 or March1995 inIraq . The Special Republican Guard was controlled by the Special Security Organization and charged with protecting PresidentSaddam 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 . In2002 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 fivebrigades containing 14battalions of 1,300-1,500 men each, and also includedair defense ,armored , andartillery were reported to be in existence at that time. The Special Republican Guard was officially dissolved onMay 23 ,2003 per CPA Order Number 2 in the wake of the2003 invasion of Iraq . [ [http://www.iraqcoalition.org/regulations/20030823_CPAORD_2_Dissolution_of_Entities_with_Annex_A.pdf Coalition Provisional Authority Order Number 2: Dissoulution of Entities] ]Former members of the Special Republican Guard are suspected of carrying out insurgent attacks on coalition forces in Iraq.
tructure
The SRG had 13 or 14 battalions and ranged in troop strength from 15,000 to 26,000. [cite news |first=Sean |last=Boyne |title=Inside Iraq's Security Network |url=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& |publisher=Jane's Intelligence Review |date=1997-07-01 |accessdate-2008-01-28] This may have fallen to 12,000 by 2002.
*1st Brigade
*2nd Brigade
*3rd Brigade
*4th Brigade
*Air Defense Command
*Tank CommandReferences
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