National Defense Battalions (Iraq)
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The National Defense Battalions (Arabic: كتائب الدفاع الوطني "Jahafel al-Difa' al-Watani") were Iraqi Kurdish paramilitary units that initially emerged from a pro-government Kurdish militia raised by the regime of Abdul-Karim Qasim used against Kurdish insurgents during the First Iraqi–Kurdish War. The Battalions were used quite prominently during the Iran-Iraq War, particularly during the Anfal Campaign. Many of the Battalions' units rebelled in the 1991 uprusing and joined the Peshmerga, although the Battalions survived, albeit in a reduced capacity, until the Ba'athist government was toppled in 2003.
Quick Facts National Defense Battalions كتائب الدفاع الوطني, Active ...
National Defense Battalions كتائب الدفاع الوطني | |
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Active | 1961–2003 |
Country | Ba'athist Iraq |
Allegiance | Iraqi Government |
Branch | Ba'ath Party |
Type | Militia Gendarmerie |
Role | Reserve army Counter-insurgency Infantry scouts Light infantry |
Size | 250,000 (1987) 412,636 (1989) 100,000 (1991) 1,000 (2002) |
Part of | Northern Bureau |
Garrison/HQ | Erbil |
Engagements | |
Commanders | |
Northern Bureau Commander | Ali Hassan al-Majid |
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