Popular Army (Iraq)
Paramilitary unit under the Ba'ath regime / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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This article is about the Iraqi paramilitary group that existed 1970–1991. For the paramilitary organization founded in 1995, see Fedayeen Saddam. For the official Iraqi Army, active in various forms since being formed under the British mandate after World War I, see Iraqi Army. For the paramilitary group, active since 2014 against the ISIS, see Popular Mobilization Forces (Iraq).
The Iraqi Popular Army, also known as the People's Army or People's Militia (Arabic: الجيش الشعبي Al Jaysh ash Shaabi), was a paramilitary and gendarmerie organization composed of civilian volunteers to protect the Ba'ath regime against internal opposition and serve as a counterbalance against any coup attempt by the regular Iraqi Army.[2]
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Quick Facts Iraqi Popular Army, Active ...
Iraqi Popular Army | |
---|---|
Active | 1970–1991 |
Disbanded | April 29, 1991[1][2] |
Country | Iraq |
Branch | Paramilitary Gendarmerie |
Type | Light Infantry |
Role | First Line of Defence (1980–88) Reserve army Internal security |
Size | Peaked at over 650,000 in 1987[2] |
Garrison/HQ | Baqubah Basra Tikrit |
Nickname(s) | Al Jaysh al Sha'abi |
Patron | Saddam Hussein Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri |
Equipment | Small arms, infantry fighting vehicles, light artillery, MANPADS |
Engagements | Iran–Iraq War |
Commanders | |
Last commander | Taha Yassin Ramadan |
Insignia | |
Ba'ath party flag |
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In 1987, the People's Army, standing at an estimated 650,000, approached the regular armed forces' manpower strength.