Anglo-Iraqi War

The Anglo-Iraqi War was a brief 1941 conflict in which Britain and allied forces defeated Rashid Ali al-Gaylani’s government and reoccupied Iraq.

Habbaniya: A Royal Air Force station west of Baghdad that became a major British stronghold during the 1941 conflict. Its defense against Iraqi forces triggered the campaign’s first major fighting.
Rashid Ali al-Gaylani: An Iraqi politician who led the government that challenged British influence in 1941. His return to power and confrontation with Britain precipitated the conflict.
Nuri al-Said: An Iraqi statesman and opponent of Rashid Ali who returned to political influence after the 1941 defeat. His pro-British position made him a central rival to Rashid Ali.
Anglo-Soviet invasion of Iran: The 1941 Allied invasion of Iran to secure supply routes and remove Reza Shah from power. It followed soon after the Iraqi campaign and secured Britain’s eastern flank.
Iraqi revolt of 1920: A widespread uprising against British rule in Iraq during the British mandate. It was a broader popular revolt, unlike the 1941 conflict centered on government and army forces.
RAF Habbaniya airlift: A British airlift that brought reinforcements and supplies to Habbaniya during the 1941 conflict. It helped sustain the air base as Iraqi forces threatened it.
Golden Square: A group of four Iraqi army officers who wielded political influence and supported Rashid Ali’s 1941 government. Its officers helped install the government that resisted British demands.
Reginald Wingate: A British general who commanded forces in the Middle East during the Second World War. His regional command oversaw British military operations in Iraq.
Persian Corridor: An Allied supply route through Iran that carried matériel to the Soviet Union during the Second World War. British security in Iraq helped protect access to this emerging route.
Syrian campaign: A 1941 Allied campaign against Vichy French forces in Syria and Lebanon. It was a neighboring Middle Eastern operation against a different Axis-aligned authority.

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