Abdul-Wahab al-Saadi or Saedi (Arabic: عبد الوهاب الساعدي) is an Iraqi military officer with the rank General, who played a critical role in defeating ISIS during the War in Iraq (2013–2017) and who served as the head of the Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Service from 2020 to 2023. He received the French Legion of Honour in 2022.
General Abdul-Wahab al-Saadi | |
|---|---|
| Native name | عبد الوهاب الساعدي |
| Born | 1963 Al-Thawra District, Baghdad, Iraq |
| Allegiance |  Iraq |
| Service | Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Service |
| Years of service | 1983-present |
| Rank |  General |
| Commands | Head of Iraqi Counter Terrorism Service (2020-2023) |
| Battles / wars | Iran–Iraq War |
| Awards | National Order of the Legion of Honour (French: Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur)[1] |
Early life and education
editAl-Saadi is born in 1963 in Al-Thawra District, Baghdad.
Al-Saadi graduated from the University of Mosul in Northern Iraq with a bachelor's degree in physics. He then graduated from the Iraqi Military College with a rank of lieutenant, then graduated from the Iraqi Military Joint Staff College in 1996.[2][3][4]
Career
editAl-Saadi was the overall operations commander of Iraqi government forces in Battle of Baiji (2014–15), Second Battle of Tikrit, Third Battle of Fallujah (2016), and the Hawija offensive (2017) in the war against ISIL.[5][6]
Peter Bergen wrote that al-Saadi played a critical role in the overall defeat of ISIS in Iraq.[7]
In September 2019, al-Saadi was removed from his office as second-in-command of ICTS by then Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi and transferred to work in the Ministry of Defense, without mentioning the reasons for the decision. Al-Saadi said that the decision was at the request of the head of the Counter-Terrorism Agency, General Talib Shaghati and that it was considered "insulting to him and his military history." Many politicians, media and activists considered the decision unfair. The firing could be considered one of the reasons for protests that escalated into street clashes resulting in thousands of deaths.[8][9][10] After getting promoted to General, on May 10, 2020, newly appointed prime minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi promoted Al-Saedi to lead the counterterrorism service.[11] He was succeeded as head of ICTS by Lieutenant General Karim Abboud Al-Tamimi on November 1, 2023.
Accolades
editIn 2022, Al-Saadi received the French Legion of Honour for his outstanding role in defeating ISIS.
References
edit- ^ "فرنسا تقلد رئيس جهاز مكافحة الإرهاب العراقي "وسام الشرف العالي"". ShafaqNews.
- ^ "عبد الوهاب الساعدي.. من دراسة الفيزياء إلى قائد أبرز المعارك ضد داعش بالعراق". 3 October 2019. Archived from the original on 3 October 2019. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
- ^ "من هو الفريق الركن عبد الوهاب الساعدي". 15 December 2017. Archived from the original on 15 December 2017. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
- ^ "Iraq removes military commander who defeated ISIS on the ground". www.rudaw.net. Archived from the original on 31 December 2019. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
- ^ "Iraqi CTU Lieutenant General Abdul-Wahab al-Saadi to lead Hawija war - official".
- ^ "Exclusive: Abdel Wahab al-Saadi named as commander of Hawija operations - Iraq News - Local News - Baghdadpost". www.thebaghdadpost.com. 5 September 2017. Archived from the original on 28 September 2019. Retrieved 28 September 2019.
- ^ "Bergen: It wasn't Trump but this general's elite soldiers who defeated ISIS". 15 December 2017.
- ^ "Is this Iraqi General behind Iraq's wave of protests?". euronews. 3 October 2019. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
- ^ Saadoun, Mustafa (4 October 2019). "Iran's influence seen in transfer of Iraqi war hero". Al-Monitor. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
- ^ "Iraq faces political crisis after days of deadly protests | CTV News". www.ctvnews.ca. 5 October 2019. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
- ^ "New Iraqi PM Orders Jailed Protesters Freed". 10 May 2020.