The Iraqi Republican Guard (RG) was the core of the Iraqi military. There were between 80,000 and 100,000 troops in the Republican Guard itself, and an additional 15,000-20,000 troops in the Special Republican Guard (SRG). Not counting troops of the SRG, the Republican Guard fields 2 Corps, consisting of 1 infantry division, 2 mechanized divisions, and 3 armored divisions. The Special Republican Guard consisted of 4 brigades and 2 commands.

The Republican Guard were regular, uniformed troops, unlike the paramilitary Fedayeen.

Both the Republican Guard and the Special Republican Guard's armored units used T-72M1 tanks, the most advanced tank in Iraq's armored inventory.

Prior to the 2003 invasion of Iraq, the Republican Guard was located along the Tigris, to the north and south of Baghdad. The SRG was positioned along the Tigris, just south of the capital.

Order of Battle

On April 2, 2003, U.S. Brigadier General Vincent Brooks claimed that the Baghdad division of the Iraqi Republican Guard has been "destroyed". Iraq information minister Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf responded that this was another American "lie".

See also: military of Iraq, Regular Army, US plan to invade Iraq