Chief of the General Staff (Iraq)

The chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Iraq (Arabic: رئاسة اركان الجيش العراقي, romanized: riasat arkan aljaysh aleiraqiu; is the chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Iraq. He is appointed by the Prime Minister of Iraq, who is the commander-in-chief. The position dates to the period of the Independence of Iraq. Up until 2003, the Chief of Staff was the second most senior officer in the Armed Forces behind the Minister of Defence.

Chief of the General Staff
رئاسة اركان الجيش
Coat of arms of the General Staff of the Iraqi Armed Forces
Incumbent General Abdel Emir Yarallah since 8 June 2020
Ministry of Defense
Member of	Armed Forces of Iraq
Reports to	Ministry of Defense
Seat	Green Zone, Baghdad
Appointer	Prime Minister of Iraq
Formation	6 Jan 1921
First holder	Saleh Saeb
Website	mod.mil.iq

Since 8 June 2020, the current chief of the General Staff is General Abdel Emir Yarallah.

List of chiefs of the General Staff

Rank	Name	Photo	Rank at the time of taking office	Duration	Notes
Kingdom of Iraq
1	Nuri al-Said		Lieutenant general	From: January 6, 1921 Until: November 20, 1922	He served in the Ottoman Army and participated in the Arab Revolt, joining Prince Faisal in Syria. Following the failure to establish Prince Faisal's kingdom in Syria due to French military intervention, he returned to Iraq and contributed to the establishment of the Kingdom of Iraq and the Iraqi Army. He previously held the position of Chief of Staff of the Arab Revolt Army.
2	Taha al-Hashimi		Lieutenant general	From: November 20, 1922 Until: July 28, 1924	He graduated from the Military School in Istanbul in 1906 and later from the Staff College in 1909, earning the rank of Chief of Staff. In 1920, Faisal bin Al-Hussein appointed him as Director of Public Security. After the Battle of Maysalun, he went to Turkey, where he served as Head of the History Department in the Turkish General Staff. He returned to Iraq in 1922 and was appointed by Faisal bin Al-Hussein as Commander of the Mosul Region, later becoming Chief of Staff of the Iraqi Army in 1923.
In 1924, the position of Chief of Staff of the Army was abolished and his duties were transferred to the position of Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.
-	Nuri al-Said		Lieutenant general	From: July 28, 1924 Until: May 28, 1928	He was transferred to the Staff Command as Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.
By 1928 the position was reinstated
-	Taha al-Hashimi		Lieutenant general	From: May 28, 1928 Until: October 29, 1936
3	Bakr Sidqi		Lieutenant general	From: October 29, 1936 Until: August 11, 1937	He is known for leading the 1936 coup that ousted the government of Yasin al-Hashimi and resulted in the death of Jaafar al-Askari. Following the coup, he assumed the position of Chief of Staff of the Iraqi Army, having previously served as Commander of the Second Division in the Iraqi Army. He was later assassinated, which forced the resignation of the government led by Hikmat Sulayman, whom he had appointed.
4	Abdul Latif Nouri		Lieutenant general	From: August 15 Until: August 22, 1937	After the assassination of Bakr Sidqi, a royal decree was issued mandating his retirement from military service. Following this, he engaged in political activities and was elected as a member of parliament.
5	Hussein Fawzi		Lieutenant general	From: August 22, 1937 Until: February 20, 1940	He was born in Baghdad on January 17, 1889, to a family originally from Mosul. After completing his primary education, he joined the Rüşdiye Military School and the Military Preparatory School in Baghdad. In 1906, he enrolled in the Military Academy in Istanbul, specializing in desert artillery. Three years later, he graduated with distinction, earning the rank of Second Lieutenant in 1909. He later became involved in politics and attempted to depose Nuri al-Said by exerting pressure on Prince Abdul Ilah. However, his efforts were unsuccessful, leading to his retirement.
6	Amin Zaki Suleiman		Lieutenant general	From: February 25, 1940 Until: May 29, 1941
7	Mohammed Amin Ahmed Al-Omari		Lieutenant general	From: May 29, 1941 Until: June 2, 1941
8	Ismail Namik		Lieutenant general	From: June 2, 1941 Until: December 20, 1944	He served as Minister of Defense from 1944 to 1946. Additionally, he held the position of Commander of the Hashemite Cavalry Brigade, which was established by Tahsin Ali.
9	Saleh Saeb al-Jubouri		General officer	From: December 20, 1944 Until: August 18, 1951	He was the first Iraqi officer to hold this high position after graduating from the Iraqi Staff College. Those who preceded him in this position had either graduated from Ottoman Staff Colleges or were non-staff officers. He received his education at Ottoman military schools, where he graduated as an officer and served with the rank of "Lieutenant" in some of their armies during World War I. He began attending the Iraqi Staff College on January 5, 1930, in its second session and graduated on December 31, 1932, after a three-year course.
10	Nureddin Mahmud		General officer	From: August 18, 1951 Until: January 29, 1953	He graduated from Ottoman military schools and served in its armies before and during World War I. He was admitted to the Iraqi Staff College in its first session on September 21, 1929, and graduated on May 29, 1930, after just six months of study. He held the position of Prime Minister of a military emergency government for only two months under martial law at the end of 1952. He was then appointed as a member of the Senate until July 1958.
11	Hussein Makki Khammas		Major general	From: January 29, 1953 Until: September 17, 1953	He graduated as an officer from Ottoman military schools and served in some of its army units during World War I. He joined the Staff College as a cadet officer in its second session on January 5, 1930, and graduated on December 31, 1932, after three years of study. He succeeded General Noor al-Din Mahmoud in this high-ranking position in 1953 before assuming the position of Minister of Defense.
12	Rafik Arif		Lieutenant general	From: September 17, 1953 Until: July 14, 1958	He is considered the first officer from the first graduating class of the Iraqi Military Academy to hold this highest position in the army, as all the previous Chiefs of Staff were graduates of Ottoman military schools. He joined the military academy as a cadet in its first session on May 12, 1924, and graduated on June 28, 1927, after more than three years of study. He joined the Staff College in its third session on January 6, 1934, and graduated on December 12, 1935, after two full years of study. He was the first Iraqi staff officer sent to complete his studies at the Pakistan Army Staff College in Quetta. He was also the last Chief of Staff of the Iraqi army during the monarchy era.
Republic of Iraq (1958-2003)
13	Ahmed Saleh al-Abdi		Major general	From: July 14, 1958 Until: February 8, 1963	He was the first Chief of Staff of the Army in the republican era. He was admitted to the eighth session of the military academy on September 16, 1931, and graduated on May 14, 1934, after about three years of study. He then joined the seventh session of the Staff College on January 24, 1940, and graduated on December 11, 1941, after two full years of study.
14	Tahir Yahya		Lieutenant general	From: February 8, 1963 Until: November 20, 1963	He is considered the first officer (non-staff) to hold this position since the 1940s without having completed a Staff College course or holding the Staff Officer insignia, which was seen as a deviation from military laws and traditions. He served as the Chief of Staff of the Army for nine months before becoming the Prime Minister following the November 18, 1963 coup. He was admitted as a student to the tenth session of the military academy on September 15, 1934, and graduated on November 15, 1935, after studying for 14 months.
15	Abdul Rahman Arif		Lieutenant general	From: November 20, 1963 Until: April 15, 1966	He is the second officer (non-staff) to hold this position without having completed the Staff College course, which is why he was not officially confirmed in his position. He served as the Acting Chief of Staff for two and a half years before becoming the President of the Republic on April 16, 1966. He began as a student in the 13th session of the military academy on June 1, 1936, and graduated on July 4, 1937, after studying for 13 months.
16	Hamudi Mahdi		Lieutenant general	From: April 15, 1966 Until: July 17, 1967	He succeeded his friend Abdul Rahman Arif in holding this position (in an acting capacity, not permanently) for about a year and a half. He is the third officer (non-staff) to hold this position without having completed the Staff College course and carrying the staff badge. He began as a student in the 15th session of the military academy on January 1, 1937, shortly after the coup of Bakr Sidqi, and graduated on January 1, 1938, after studying for only one year.
17	Ibrahim Faisal Ansari		Major general	From: July 17, 1967 Until: August 5, 1968	He was accepted as a student in the 18th session of the military academy on December 27, 1938, and graduated on January 5, 1941, after completing two full years of study. During the second year of his studies, the name of the military academy was changed to the Military College. He joined the 16th Staff Course as a student officer on September 24, 1949, and graduated on July 12, 1951, after approximately two years of study.
18	Hammad Shihab		Lieutenant general	From: August 5, 1968 Until: April 3, 1970	He is the fourth officer (non-staff) to hold this position without completing the staff course or carrying the staff insignia. He joined the 22nd session at the Military College as a student on September 15, 1943, and graduated on June 30, 1945, after approximately two years of study. He served as the Chief of Staff for two years before becoming the Minister of Defense in 1970, until his assassination on June 30, 1974.
19	Abdul Jabbar Shanshal		General officer	From: April 3, 1970 Until: January 15, 1984	He set a record by serving as Chief of Staff for the army for 14 consecutive years before becoming Minister of State for Military Affairs and Minister of Defense, then returning to the role of Minister of State, continuing to serve in the military until the occupation of Iraq. He joined the 18th session at the Military College with his colleague Ibrahim Faisal Al-Ansari on December 27, 1938, and graduated on January 5, 1941, after two full years of study. He then enrolled as a cadet in the 15th staff course with his colleague Abdul Salam Arif on March 31, 1949, and graduated on April 9, 1951, after more than two full years of study.
20	Abdul Jawad Dhanuun		General officer	From: January 15, 1984 Until: 1986	He was appointed as the Governor of Nineveh Province from April 18, 1992, to September 17, 1993. He joined the 35th session at the Military College on October 1, 1956, and graduated on July 14, 1959, after approximately three years of study. This was the first session to graduate during the republican era. He enrolled in the 34th staff course as a cadet on September 14, 1967, and graduated on May 15, 1969, after two full years of study.
21	Saaduddin Aziz Mustafa		Major general	From: 1986 Until: July 25, 1987	He was retired with the rank of Brigadier General when he was called back to service in 1986 to serve as the Chief of Staff of the Army for one year. He began his studies as a cadet in the 25th session at the Military College on September 15, 1946, and graduated on June 30, 1949, after approximately three years of study. He joined the 21st staff course as a cadet on September 23, 1954, and graduated on July 5, 1956, after two full years of study.
22	Nizar Al-Khazraji		General officer	From: July 25, 1987 Until: September 19, 1990	The Iran-Iraq War ended during his tenure. He joined the 34th session at the Military College on September 14, 1955, and graduated on June 30, 1958, after approximately three years of study, which was the last session to graduate during the monarchy era. He entered the 33rd staff course on September 14, 1966, and graduated on June 6, 1968, after two full years of study.
23	Hussein Rashid		General officer	From: September 19, 1990 Until: 1991	He joined the 38th session at the Military College on November 7, 1959, and graduated on July 14, 1962, after studying for less than three years. He entered the 36th staff course on May 3, 1969, and graduated on April 7, 1970, after the study period was shortened to less than one year.
24	Iyad Futayyih		General officer	From: 1991 Until: 1995	He began as a student in the 40th session at the Military College on October 29, 1961, and graduated on September 15, 1963, after studying for approximately two years. He joined the 41st staff course on June 1, 1974, and graduated on July 30, 1975, after studying for more than one year.
25	Sultan Hashim Ahmad al-Tai		General officer	From: 1995 Until: July 18, 1995	He served as Chief of Staff of the Army for a few months in 1995 before assuming the position of Minister of Defense for about 8 consecutive years until the American occupation of Iraq in 2003. He joined the 43rd session at the Military College on January 1, 1964, and graduated on June 6, 1966, after studying for about two and a half years. He enrolled in the 42nd staff course on September 6, 1975, and graduated on April 7, 1977, after studying for more than two and a half years.
26	Abdul-Wahid Shannan ar-Ribat		General officer	From: July 18, 1995 Until: 1999	He joined the 44th session at the Military College on October 24, 1964, and graduated on January 16, 1967, after studying for about two years and two months. He enrolled in the 44th staff course on September 11, 1976, and graduated on April 8, 1978, after studying for more than one and a half years.
27	Ibrahim Ahmad Abd al-Sattar		General officer	From: 1999 Until: April 9, 2003	He began his studies as a cadet in the 49th session at the Military College on March 8, 1969, and graduated on October 18, 1970. He joined the 46th staff course on January 12, 1978, and graduated on April 20, 1980, after studying for more than two years. He was the last Chief of Staff of the Iraqi Army until the American occupation of Iraq.
Republic of Iraq (2003-present)
On May 23, 2003, the Iraqi Army was dissolved, and all of its officers and personnel were discharged. It was later re-established on August 8, 2003.
28	Babaker Zebari		General officer	From: August 8, 2003 Until: June 29, 2015	He graduated from the Military University in Baghdad in 1963 and began his military career in 1970 after graduating from the Military Academy in Baghdad. Babakir Zebari is a political and military figure, holding a leadership position in the Kurdistan Democratic Party.
29	Othman al-Ghanmi		General officer	From: June 29, 2015 Until: May 7, 2020	He joined the Military Technical College in 1976-1977 and graduated with the rank of First Lieutenant Engineer. He progressed through various ranks, from Company Commander to Brigade Commander and then to Division Commander. He served as the Commander of the 8th Division of the Iraqi Army, and later appointed Commander of Central Euphrates Operations. In 2014, he was appointed Deputy Chief of Staff of the Iraqi Army, and shortly thereafter, he became the Chief of Staff of the Iraqi Army. He received the High Merit Medal from the United States and visited the United Kingdom as a guest of honor at the Royal Military Parade. On May 7, 2020, the Iraqi Parliament voted for him to become the Minister of Interior in Mustafa Al-Kadhimi's government.
30	Abdel Emir Yarallah		General officer	From: June 7, 2020 Till: now	He was appointed as the Chief of Staff of the Iraqi Army on June 7, 2020. He also served as the Commander of the Operation to liberate Tal Afar in 2017, named "We Are Coming, Tal Afar."

External links

• Iraqi Ministry of Defense
• Counter Terrorism Service
• Website of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces
• Volunteer Management Directorate