Iraqi Army (pre-2014)

Iraqi Army (pre-2014)
Unit name	Iraqi Army (pre-2014)
Dates	1921–2014 (pre-2014 era)
Country	Iraq
Branch	Iraqi Armed Forces
Type	Army
Size	Variable (divisions, brigades)
Garrison	Baghdad
Battles	1920 Iraqi Revolt, Anglo-Iraqi War, Kurdish–Iraqi conflict, First Iraqi–Kurdish War, Iran–Iraq War, Gulf War, Iraq War (2003–2011), Iraqi insurgency (2011–2013)
Notable commanders	King Faisal I of Iraq, Saddam Hussein, Masoud Barzani, Nouri al-Maliki, Ayad Allawi

Iraqi Army (pre-2014) was the land component of the Iraqi Armed Forces from its formation in the early twentieth century through the period ending in 2014, shaped by involvement in regional wars, domestic security operations, and international interventions. It evolved from units created under the British Mandate for Mesopotamia into a force influenced by Ottoman Empire legacies, Hashemite monarchy patronage, Ba'ath Party control, Cold War alignments with the Soviet Union, and post‑2003 reconstruction under United States Department of Defense oversight.

History and Origins

The formation traces to the post‑World War I era under the British Empire following the Mesopotamian campaign, with early cadres drawn from former Ottoman Army soldiers, tribal levies involved in the 1920 Iraqi Revolt, and officers trained in Royal Military College, Sandhurst and elsewhere. The army experienced coups such as the 1941 Iraqi coup d'état that precipitated the Anglo-Iraqi War, the 1958 Iraqi coup d'état ending the Hashemite monarchy, and oscillated through periods of influence by figures tied to the Ba'ath Party (Iraq) and leaders including Ahmed Hassan al-Bakr and Saddam Hussein. During the Cold War, the force reorganized with assistance from the Soviet Union, acquiring doctrine and equipment used in conflicts like the Iran–Iraq War and the Gulf War. Post‑2003, the old structures were dissolved after the Iraq War (2003–2011) invasion and later rebuilt amid debates involving United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq and NATO partners.

Organization and Structure

Pre‑2014 organizational models included corps, divisions, brigades, and specialized units such as the Republican Guard (Iraq), Iraqi Army Corps, and elite formations loyal to political authorities. Regional commands were oriented toward provinces including Kirkuk, Basra, Mosul, and Anbar Governorate, while internal security roles overlapped with the Iraqi National Guard and paramilitary groups linked to Popular Mobilization Forces. Logistics and support were tied to institutions like the Ministry of Defence (Iraq), academies such as the Iraqi Military Academy, and training centers established with partners including the United States Army and United Kingdom Ministry of Defence.

Equipment and Armament

The arsenal reflected successive suppliers: early British arms gave way to large inventories of T-72 and T-55 tanks from the Soviet Union, BMP infantry fighting vehicles, ZSU-23-4 anti‑aircraft systems, and artillery such as the D-20 and BM-21 Grad. Air defence and aviation assets connected to the Iraqi Air Force influenced ground operations, while small arms included the AK-47, PK machine gun, and Western weapons captured or imported. Sanctions and arms embargoes shaped procurement, prompting indigenous projects like the Lion of Babylon tank program and adaptations of civilian platforms for combat in theaters including Basra and Karbala.

Training, Doctrine, and Personnel

Doctrine synthesized Soviet combined arms concepts and later Western counterinsurgency approaches introduced during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Officer education drew on institutions such as the Iraqi Staff College and foreign exchanges with the Soviet Ground Forces, Egyptian Army, Jordanian Armed Forces, and NATO members. Recruitment patterns reflected conscription and volunteer cohorts, incorporating ethnic and sectarian groups including Kurds, Shi'a, and Sunni Arabs; this diversity affected cohesion during periods of politicization and purges under Saddam Hussein and after 2003. Professionalization initiatives emphasized military police, logistics, and military intelligence linked to agencies like the Iraqi National Intelligence Service.

Operations and Conflicts (1961–2013)

The army fought in multiple major engagements: counterinsurgency against Barzani Revolts and the First Iraqi–Kurdish War; interstate war during the Iran–Iraq War including battles at Khorramshahr and Al-Faw (1986); coalition conflict in the Gulf War with battles such as the Battle of Kuwait International Airport; the 2003 Iraq War (2003–2011) invasion culminating in the collapse of conventional formations; and post‑invasion counterinsurgency against groups like Al-Qaeda in Iraq and later Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. Operations spanned sieges in Fallujah, engagements in Ramadi, and stabilization efforts in Nineveh Governorate, often involving coordination with Multinational Force – Iraq and later Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve advisors.

Reforms and Modernization Efforts

Reform efforts included rebuilding after 2003 under oversight by the Coalition Provisional Authority, training programs led by the United States Central Command, and equipment transfers from partners including Russia and Iran in varying degrees. Modernization addressed command and control, enablers like engineering brigades, counter‑IED capabilities, and force protection measures learned from urban combat in Fallujah and Mosul. Political reforms attempted integration of former regime elements via amnesty programs and initiatives by administrations such as those of Iyad Allawi and Nouri al-Maliki to create nationally cohesive forces.

Command and Leadership

Leadership ranged from monarchs like King Faisal I of Iraq through nationalist officers involved in the 1958 Iraqi coup d'état to centralization under Saddam Hussein with figures such as Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri exercising influence. Post‑2003 command transitioned to ministers including Abdul Qadir al-Obeidi and Saadoun al-Dulaimi, with civilian oversight complicated by Sectarian politics in Iraq, parliamentary dynamics in the Council of Representatives of Iraq, and power centers in Baghdad and the Kurdistan Regional Government. Coalition advisors and embedded training teams shaped senior appointments and operational planning.

Legacy and Influence on Post-2014 Forces

The pre‑2014 army left institutional legacies in doctrine, cadre experience, and equipment inventories that influenced the later fight against Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant in 2014 Northern Iraq offensive. Units and structures provided a foundation for reconstruction of brigades, while failures in cohesion and politicization informed reforms emphasizing integration, counterterrorism, and cooperation with Popular Mobilization Forces and international partners like United States, United Kingdom, and NATO. Historical battles, officer schools, and veteran networks continued to shape Iraqi military culture into the post‑2014 era.

Category:Military history of Iraq