The Associated Press August 7, 2002
Iraq's military arrayed to fight Iran, insurgents
By The Associated Press
Iraq's military has 350,000 to 400,000 troops, arrayed to fight rebels, defend against Iran and other neighbors and protect President Saddam Hussein:
-Northern Iraq: The Iraqi army's 1st Corps is headquartered at Kirkuk and the 5th Corps is at Mosul. These units defend against Kurdish rebels and Syria. An Iraqi corps may have 30,000 to 50,000 troops. The better-equipped Iraqi Republican Guard's northern corps also operates in this region and defends the outer reaches of the Baghdad.
-Eastern Iraq: The army's 2nd Corps is based in Deyala, northeast of Baghdad. This unit defends against Iran and opposes the Iranian-backed Shiite rebels who operate in the region.
-Southern Iraq: The army's 3rd and 4th Corps are based southeast of Baghdad and are positioned to fight Iran, Shiite rebels and U.S. troops coming in from Kuwait or Iraq's small coastal region. The Republican Guard's southern corps is also spread around this region.
-Baghdad: A Special Republican Guard, which can muster up to 25,000 troops in an emergency, protects the city and Saddam.
Sources: Anthony Cordesman, Center for Strategic and International Studies; Jane's; GlobalSecurity.org; Periscope.
© Copyright 2002 The Scotsman Publications Ltd.
