アングロ＝イラク戦争

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アングロ＝イラク戦争（英: Anglo-Iraqi war）とは、1941年のクーデターで枢軸国に支援されてラシッド・アリ（英語版）に権力を掌握されたイラクに対する、イギリスの軍事作戦のことである。その結果、イギリスによるイラクの占領と、親英派のアブデュル・イラー王子の権力掌握が生じた。

アングロ＝イラク戦争
バグダードのイギリス軍兵士、1941年6月11日
戦争：アングロ＝イラク戦争
年月日：1941年5月2日-31日[1][nb 1]
場所：　イラク王国
結果：連合国の勝利
交戦勢力
連合国 イギリス帝国 イギリス領インド帝国 イラク(アッシリア)召集兵 パレスチナ[3] トランスヨルダン アブデュル・イラー王子の支援勢力	枢軸国 イラク ドイツ国[4] イタリア王国[5] ヴィシー・フランス[6]
指導者・指揮官
クロード・オーレンチック[7] アーチボルド・ウェーベル[7] エドワード・キナン[8] ウィリアム・フレイザー[7] ウィリアム・スリム H・G・スマート[9] オーブリー・ロバーツ ジョーン・ダルビアック	ラシッド・アリ サラー・アル・サッバーグ カミル・シャビブ ファフミ・サイド マホメド・サルマン ファウジ・アル・カクージ アミン・アル・フセイニ[10] ヴェルナー・ユンク
戦力
1歩兵師団 2旅団 航空機100機以上	4師団 30,000人 イラク王国の航空機116機(戦闘可能だったのは50-60機) ドイツの航空機21-29機 イタリアの航空機12機
損害
わずかな損害(少なくとも死者は200人) 航空機28機	1750人、うち死者は500人 戦闘可能なイラクの航空機のほぼ全て ドイツの航空機19機 イタリアの航空機3機
表示

1932年の独立まで、イラクは国際連盟のイギリス委任統治領メソポタミアとなっていた。独立前の1930年、イギリスはイラク国内でイギリス軍の軍事通行権、軍事基地の使用および建設の権利を認めさせる条約を、イラク国内での反感を買いながら締結したことがあった。

独立後の1937年には、すでにイラク国内から多くのイギリス軍が撤退し、イラクは国内の安全を確保できる軍事力を持つようになった。この頃もイギリス空軍（RAF）は基地の利用を許可されていたが、その権限もバスラ近郊のシャイバ基地、ファルージャとラマディの間にあるハバニヤ基地（イラクのイギリス空軍将校のH・G・スマートの指揮下）の2か所に限られていた。とはいえ、この基地は英領エジプトから英領インドの空路にとっても、イギリスの石油権益にも重要な存在だった（ハバニヤは、バグダードの東にある）。

第二次世界大戦の開戦時、ハバニヤ基地はイギリスの第一装甲車中隊と地元の徴兵部隊の訓練基地となった。

1939年9月、ポーランド侵攻を受けてイラク政府はナチス・ドイツとの国交を断絶したが、翌年3月、これに反発する国粋主義者のラシッド・アリが首相となった。アリは公式には枢軸国を支持していないように見せるために、密かにドイツと連絡を取っていたが、6月に枢軸国として第二次世界大戦に参戦したファシストのイタリア王国とは国交を続け、イタリア軍を反英プロパガンダに利用し、イギリス領パレスチナから亡命した大ムフティーのアミーン・フセイニもこの活動を支援した。しかし、結果的に起こった混乱と内戦の可能性が原因で、1941年1月にアリは首相を辞任し、タハ・アル・ハシミ（英語版）が後任となった。

3月31日、イラクの摂政であるアブドゥル・イラー王子は自分を逮捕する計画の存在を知り、バグダードからハバニヤ基地へ、ハバニヤからバスラに逃亡し、砲艦HMSコックチェーファーに避難した。その翌日、ラシッド・アリと、「ゴールデンスクエア」と呼ばれる4人の軍司令官がクーデターで権力を掌握し、ラシッド・アリは自らを「国防政府の首長」と宣言した。ゴールデンスクエアはタハ・アル・ハシミ首相に関する証言を集め、ラシッド・アリは再びイラクの首相になった。アリは君主制には反対せず、シャラフ・ビン・ラジェをファイサル2世の摂政としたが、ファイサル2世本人と王族はムラ・エフェンディの家に避難していた。ゴールデンスクエアも親英市民と政治家を逮捕したが、多くは英領トランスヨルダンへ逃亡した。

ゴールデンスクエアは、英国への譲歩の拒否、イタリアとの外交関係の維持、親英国の政治家を追放することを目的としていて、イギリスが弱いという前提での交渉を行った。クーデターから2週間が経った4月17日、アリはイギリスとの戦争が起きた際の軍事援助をドイツに求め、また、イラクに到着したイギリス軍が英領パレスチナへ移動すると主張し、1930年の条約の第5条に基づいてイギリスの権利を制限しようとした。

戦前、イギリスはバグダードで行われる小規模な軍事任務を通し、GGウォーターハウス少将が指揮したイラク王立軍（RIrA）とイラク空軍（RIrAF）の支援を1938年から行っていた。RIrAの約60,000人の兵士は、ほとんどが4つの歩兵師団と1つの機械化旅団に配属されていた。第1師団と第3師団はバグダードの近くに駐留しており、バグダード内には、L3 / 35豆戦車で構成される軽戦車中隊、クロスリー装甲車で構成される装甲車中隊、自動車化歩兵2個大隊、機械化砲兵、砲兵旅団で構成される独立機械化旅団があった。イラクの第2師団はキルクークに、第4師団はアルディワニヤのバグダードからバスラまでの幹線に配置されていた。この頃のRIrAの「機械化された」という用語は、現代での意味とは異なり、大型トラックでの移動、徒歩での戦闘という戦闘方法を意味した。
（地図上で、キルクークはティグリス川の西、アルディワニヤはバスラからバグダードへの道沿いに示されている町）
イラク人は、囚人を殺害することを躊躇しなかった冷酷なアラブのゲリラ指導者、ファウズィー・アルカウジの下で警察部隊と約500人の非正規軍を擁していた。ファウズィは、シリアへの追放前、ルトバからラマディで活動していた。
（ルトバは地図上で最も西に示されている町、ラマディはユーフラテス川沿いでバグダッドの東にある町）

RIrAFには、7つの飛行隊と116機の訓練学校の航空機があったが、実戦に使用可能なのは50から60機だった。ほとんどのイラクの戦闘機と爆撃機は、バグダード（旧RAFヒナイディ）またはモスルの「ラシッド飛行場」にあった。4つの戦闘部隊と飛行士訓練学校はバグダッドに拠点を置いていた。緊密な協力と汎用航空機を備えた2つの飛行隊がモスルに拠点を置いていた。イラクは、のグロスター グラディエーター複葉戦闘機、ブレダ65攻撃機、SM.79爆撃機、ノースロップ/ダグラス8A攻撃機、ホーカー ハート（ホーカー ニスル）複葉近接協力航空機、ビッカース ヴィンセント（英語版）複葉軽爆撃機のほかに、デ・ハビランド ドラゴン・ラピード複葉輸送機、デ・ハビランド ドラゴンフライ複葉汎用航空機、タイガー・モス複葉練習機を保有していた。RIrAFには、飛行隊に割り当てられていない別の9機の航空機と、予備の19機の航空機もあった[19]。

イラク海軍（RIrN）には、100トンのソーニークロフト砲艦、飛行士用船舶、4隻の掃海艇があった。全てが武装しており、シャット・アル・アラブ水路を拠点としていた。

1941年4月時点でイラクに配備されていたイギリス軍は小規模なものであった。イラクの英軍は空軍少将H・G・スマートが指揮していて、さまざまな活動を行なっていた。イラク英軍の地上戦力になるのは、RAF第一装甲車中隊、6個のアッシリア召募兵中隊、先住民、東アラム語話者でキリスト教徒のアッシリア人2,000人の部隊、その他の戦車であり、20人ほどのイギリス人将校の指揮下にあった。装甲車中隊は、18台のロールスロイス装甲車を保有していたが、第一次世界大戦時のかなり古い設計で、空軍車両用に作られたものであった。装甲車中隊は他に、大型戦車、ワールス・アンド・セイル2台と、豆戦車のカーテン・ロイドMk4も配備していた。

ハバニヤ基地の、RAF第四空軍学校（4FTS）には雑多な爆撃機があり、教官と戦闘員がいた。84機の爆撃機はほとんどが実戦には適さない物であった。戦争初期にいた約1,000人のRAF人員のうち、パイロットはわずか39人であった。^[11]4月1日、将校用に3機のイギリスのグロスター グラディエーター複葉戦闘機、30機のホーカー オーダックス複葉協働機（ホーカー ハートの爆撃機版）、7機のフェアリー ゴードン複葉爆撃機、27機のエアスピード オックスフォード双発練習機、28機のホーカー ハート複葉軽量爆撃機、20機のハート練習機、1機のブリストル ブレニムMk.1爆撃機を持っていた。オーダックスは8つの20ポンド（9.1キログラム）爆弾を運ぶことができ、12機は2個の250ポンド爆弾を搭載するように改造された。ゴードンは2個の250ポンド爆弾を運ぶことができ、オックスフォードは発煙弾から8個の20ポンド爆弾搭載に変更された。ハートは2個の250ポンド爆弾を運ぶことができた。ホーカー訓練機は非武装で、5月3日にブレナムを出発した。There was also an RAF Iraq Communications Flight at Habbaniya with three Vickers Valentia biplane flying boats.^[12] At RAF Shaibah there was 244 Squadron with some Vickers Vincent bombers.^[13] The naval forces available to support British actions in Iraq were part of the East Indies Station and included vessels from the Royal Navy (RN), the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) and the Royal Indian Navy (RIN).

イギリスのラシッド・アリの「国家防衛政府」との関係はますます悪化していった。1931年の条約ではイラクはイギリスが戦争に巻き込まれた時にはイギリスに援助を提供する義務があるとされていたが、これにはイギリス軍がイラク国内を通過することも条件に含まれていた。イギリス軍の任務はイラク王立軍にも課され、ハバニヤとシャイバの持ち場があった^[14] 。イギリス首相ウィンストン・チャーチルはイラクの国家防衛政府を初めから認めておらず、法に逆らっているとした^[15]。

4月2日、新しいイギリスの大使 Sir Kinahan Cornwallisがイラクのバグダードに到着した^[16][14]。彼はメソポタミアでの経験があり、ファイサル1世の顧問として20年過ごした。Cornwallisは高く評価され、イラクの新政府に対して、それまでよりも強硬な路線をとることができるだろうと理解され、イラクに派遣されたのである。しかし、残念ながらCornwallisがイラクに到着するのが遅すぎたため、戦争の勃発を防ぐことはできなかった^[17]。

On 6 April, AVM Smart requested reinforcements, but his request was rejected by the air officer commanding in the Middle East, Sir Arthur Longmore.^[16] At this point in the Second World War, the situation developing in Iraq did not figure highly in British priorities. Churchill wrote, "Libya counts first, withdrawal of troops from Greece second. Tobruk shipping, unless indispensable to victory, must be fitted in as convenient. Iraq can be ignored and Crete worked up later."^[18]

The British Chiefs-of-Staff and the Commander-in-Chief for India, General Claude Auchinleck, were in favour of armed intervention but the three local commanders, already burdened by the ongoing Western Desert Campaign, East African Campaign and the Battle of Greece, suggested that the only force available was an infantry battalion in Palestine and the aircraft already in Iraq.^{[19][nb 2]} The Government of India had a long-standing commitment to prepare an infantry division to protect the Anglo-Iranian oilfields and in July 1940, the leading brigade of the 5th Indian Infantry Division, was ordered to Iraq.^[20] In August, the division was placed under the control of Middle East Command and diverted to the Sudan.^[21] Since then, India Command had been investigating the move of troops by air from India to RAF Shaibah.

On 8 April, Winston Churchill contacted Leo Amery, Secretary of State for India, and asked him what force could be quickly sent from India to Iraq. Amery contacted General Auchinleck and Lord Linlithgow, Viceroy and Governor-General of India, the same day.^[22] The response from India was that most of a brigade group due to set sail for Malaya on 10 April, could be diverted to Basra and the rest sent ten days later; 390 British infantry could be flown from India into RAF Shaibah and when shipping was available, the force could quickly be built up to a division.^[8] On 10 April this offer was accepted by London, and the move of these forces was codenamed.^[20] On the same day General Archibald Wavell, Commander-in-Chief of Middle East Command, informed London that he could no longer spare the battalion in Palestine and urged diplomacy and possibly a demonstration of air strength, rather than military intervention.^[8]

On 10 April, Major-General William Fraser assumed control over Iraqforce, the land forces from India headed for Basra with orders to occupy the Basra-Shabai area to ensure the safe disembarkation of further reinforcements and to enable a base to be established in that area.^{[8][nb 3]} The attitude of the Iraqi Army and local authorities was still uncertain and attempts might be made to oppose disembarkation. Fraser was closely to co-operate with the navy commander. If the landing was opposed, Fraser was to defeat the Iraqi forces and establish a base, but Fraser was not to infringe Iranian neutrality.^[23] In early April, preparation for hostilities began at Habbaniya, aircraft were modified to carry bombs and light bombers such as the Audaxes were modified to carry larger bombs.^[24]

On 12 April, Convoy BP7 left Karachi.^[25] The convoy was composed of eight transports escorted by the Template:Sclass Template:HMAS. The forces transported by the convoy were under the command of Major-General Fraser, the commanding officer of the 10th Indian Infantry Division. The forces being transported consisted of two senior staff officers from the 10th Indian Division headquarters, the 20th Indian Infantry Brigade, the personnel of the Royal Artillery's 3rd Field Regiment;^[8] but without their guns,^[26] and certain ancillary troops.^[23]

On 13 April, the Royal Navy force of four ships in the Persian Gulf were reinforced by the aircraft carrier Hermes(en) and two light cruisers, Emerald(en) and Template:HMNZS. HMS Hermes carried the Fairey Swordfish torpedo bombers of 814 Squadron.^[25] The naval vessels which covered the disembarkation at Basra consisted of the aircraft carrier HMS Hermes, the light cruiser HMS Emerald, the light cruiser HMNZS Leander, the sloop Falmouth(en), the gunboat HMS Cockchafer, the sloop HMS Seabelle, the minesweeper sloop Template:Ship, and the sloop HMAS Yarra. On the morning of 15 April, Convoy BP7 was met at sea by HMS Seabelle from Basra. Later in the day the escort was reinforced by HMS Falmouth. On 17 April, the convoy was joined by HMIS Lawrence and then proceeded towards the entrance of the Shatt al-Arab. On 18 April, the convoy moved up the Shatt al-Arab and arrived at Basra at 0930 hrs. HMS Emerald was already in Basra.^[27] On the same day, HMNZS Leander was released from support duties in the Persian Gulf. On 16 April, the Iraqi Government was informed that the British were going to invoke the Anglo-Iraq treaty to move troops through the country to Palestine. Rashid Ali raised no objection.

On 17 April, the 1st Battalion King's Own Royal Regiment (1st KORR) was flown into RAF Shaibah from Karachi in India.^[28] Colonel Ouvry Roberts, the Chief Staff Officer of the 10th Indian Infantry Division, arrived with the 1st KORR.^[29][30] By 18 April, the airlift of the 1st KORR to Shaibah was completed. The troop-carrying aircraft used for this airlift were 7 Valentias and 4 Atalantas supplemented by 4 DC-2s which had recently arrived in India.^[27]

On 18 April, the 20th Indian Infantry Brigade landed at Basra.^[8] Brigadier Donald Powell commanded this brigade. The 20th Indian Infantry Brigade included the 2nd battalion 8th Gurkha Rifles, 2nd battalion 7th Gurkha Rifles, and the 3rd battalion 11th Sikh Regiment. The landing of the force transported by Convoy BP7 was covered by infantry of the 1st KORR^[31] which had arrived the previous day by air.^[28] The landing was unopposed.^[32]

By 19 April, the disembarkation of the force transported by Convoy BP7 at Basra was completed.^[27] On the same day, seven aircraft^{[nb 4]} were flown into RAF Habbaniya to bolster the air force there.^[33] Following the landing of the 20th Indian Infantry Brigade, Rashid Ali requested that the brigade be moved quickly through the country and that no more troops should arrive until the previous force had left.^[34] Sir Kinahan Cornwallis, the British Ambassador to Iraq, referred the issue to London and London replied that they had no interest in moving the troops out of the country and wanted to establish them within Iraq. Cornwallis was also instructed not to inform Rashid Ali who, as he had taken control of the country via a coup d'état, had no right to be informed about British troop movements.^[24]

On 20 April, Churchill had written to Anthony Eden, the Foreign Secretary, and indicated that it should be made clear to Ambassador Cornwallis that the chief interest in sending troops to Iraq was the covering and establishment of a great assembly base near Basra. It was to be understood that what happened "up country", with the exception of Habbaniya, was at that time on an "altogether lower priority." Churchill went on to indicate that the treaty rights were invoked to cover the disembarkation, but that force would have been used if it had been required. Cornwallis was directed not to make agreements with an Iraqi government which had usurped its power. In addition, he was directed to avoid entangling himself with explanations to the Iraqis.^[35]

On 29 April, having sailed from Bombay, the remaining elements of the 20th Infantry Brigade arrived at Basra on the three transports of Convoy BN1.^[32][36] On 30 April, when Rashid Ali was informed that ships containing additional British forces had arrived, he refused permission for troops to disembark from them and began organising for an armed demonstration at RAF Habbaniya.^[24] He did this while fully expecting German assistance would be forthcoming in the guise of aircraft and airborne troops.^[31] Rashid Ali decided against opposing the landings at Basra.^[32]

Also, on 29 April,^[33] the British Ambassador, Sir Kinahan Cornwallis,^[37] advised that all British women and children should leave Baghdad; 230 civilians were escorted by road to Habbaniya and during the following days, were gradually airlifted to Shaibah.^[33] A further 350 civilians took refuge in the British Embassy and 150 British civilians in the American Legation.^[38]

By the end of the month, Colonel Roberts and 300 of the 1st KORR had been flown from RAF Shaibah to RAF Habbaniya to reinforce the latter base.^[33] Other than the 1st KORR, there were no trained British troops at Habbaniya bar the Number 1 Armoured Car Company RAF.^[12]

At 03:00 hours on 30 April, RAF Habbaniya was warned by the British Embassy that Iraqi forces had left their bases, at Baghdad, and were heading west.^[33] The Iraqi force was composed of between 6,000.^[39]–9,000.^[40] troops with up to 30 artillery pieces.^[39] Within a few hours of RAF Habbaniya being warned, Iraqi forces occupied the plateau to the south of the base. Prior to dawn, reconnaissance aircraft were launched from RAF Habbaniya and reported that at least two battalions, with artillery, had taken up position on the plateau.^{[nb 5]}

By 1 May, the Iraqi forces surrounding Habbaniya had swelled to an infantry brigade, two mechanised battalions, a mechanised artillery brigade with 12 3.7-inch mountain howitzers, a field artillery brigade with 12 18-pounder field guns and four 4.5-inch howitzers, 12 Crossley six-wheeled armoured cars, a number of Fiat light tanks, a mechanised machine gun company, a mechanised signal company, and a mixed battery of anti-aircraft and anti-tank guns. This totalled 9,000 regular troops along with an undetermined number of tribal irregulars and about 50 field guns.^[41]

At 06:00 hours, an Iraqi envoy presented a message to the air officer commanding, Air Vice-Marshal Harry George Smart, stating that the plateau had been occupied for a training exercise.^[42] The envoy also informed Smart that all flying should cease immediately^[33] and demanded that no movements, either ground or air, take place from the base.^[42] Smart replied that any interference with the normal training carried out at the base would be treated as an act of war.^[33] Sir Kinahan Cornwallis, the British Ambassador located at the British Embassy in Baghdad and in contact with RAF Habbaniya via wireless, fully supported this action.^[33]

British reconnaissance aircraft, already in the air, continued to relay information to the base; they reported that the Iraqi positions on the plateau were being steadily reinforced, they also reported that Iraqi troops had occupied the town of Fallujah.^[33]

At 11:30 hours, the Iraqi envoy again made contact with Air Vice-Marshal Smart and accused the British of violating the Anglo-Iraqi treaty. Air Vice-Marshal Smart replied that this was a political matter and he would have to refer the accusation to Ambassador Cornwallis.^[33] Meanwhile, Iraqi forces had now occupied vital bridges over the Tigris and Euphrates rivers as well as reinforcing their garrison at Ramadi; thus effectively cutting off RAF Habbaniya except from the air.^[9]

During the morning, Smart and Roberts surveyed the situation, they determined that they were exposed to attack on two sides and dominated by Iraqi artillery; a single hit from an Iraqi gun might destroy the water tower or power station and, as a result, cripple resistance at Habbaniya in one blow – the base seemed at the mercy of the Iraqi rebels. The garrison did not have enough small arms and, apart from a few mortars, no artillery support.^[43]

Air Vice-Marshal Smart controlled a base with a population of around 9,000 civilians^[24] that was indefensible with the force of roughly 2,500 men currently available.^[44] The 2,500 men included air crew and Assyrian Levies, who were prized by the British for their loyalty, discipline and fighting qualities.^[45] There was also the possibility that the Iraqi rebels were waiting for dark before attacking. As a result, Air Vice-Marshal Smart decided to accept the tactical risks and stick to Middle East Command's policy of avoiding aggravation in Iraq by, for the moment, not launching a pre-emptive strike.^[1]

Further exchanges of messages took place between the British and Iraqi forces but none were able to defuse the situation. Air Vice-Marshal Smart again requested reinforcements and this time Air Officer Commanding^[9] Sir Arthur Longmore^[46] ordered 18 ^{[nb 6]} Vickers Wellington bombers to RAF Shaibah. The British Ambassador signalled the Foreign Office that he regarded the Iraqi actions as an act of war, which required an immediate air response. He also informed them that he intended to demand the withdrawal of the Iraqi forces and permission to launch air strikes to restore control, even if the Iraqi troops overlooking Habbaniya did withdraw it would only postpone aerial attacks.^[9]

Also on 1 May, Ambassador Cornwallis received a response giving him full authority to take any steps needed to ensure the withdrawal of the Iraqi armed forces.^[9] Churchill also sent a personal reply, stating: "If you have to strike, strike hard. Use all necessary force."^[42] In the event that contact broke down between the British Embassy in Baghdad and the air base in Habbaniya, Air Vice-Marshal Smart was given permission to act on his own authority.^[9]

Still in contact with the British Embassy and with the approval of Ambassador Cornwallis, Air Vice-Marshal Smart decided to launch air strikes against the plateau the following morning without issuing an ultimatum; as with foreknowledge the Iraqi force might start to shell the airbase and halt any attempt to launch aircraft.^[9]

Most combat operations of the Anglo-Iraqi War centred on the Habbaniya area. Starting early on 2 May, British airstrikes were launched against the Iraqis from RAF Habbaniya.^[9] While the largest number of British troops were ultimately assembled in the Basra area, an advance from Basra was not immediately practicable and did not get under way until after Rashid Ali's government was already collapsing. Initially, the Iraqi sieチパge of RAF Habbaniya and the ability of the besieged British force there to withstand the siege was the primary focus of the conflict. Air Vice-Marshal Smart's decision to strike at the Iraqi positions with air power not only allowed his force to withstand the siege, but to neutralise much of Iraq's air power. While the relief force from Palestine arrived in Habbaniya after the siege was over, it did allow an immediate change over to the offensive.

Air Vice-Marshal Smart's tactics to defend Habbaniya was to mount continuous bombing and strafing attacks with as many aircraft as possible.^[47] At 05:00 on 2 May 33 aircraft from Habbaniya,^[9] out of the 56 operational aircraft based there,^[48] and eight Wellington bombers, from Shaibah, began their attack.^[9] A few of the Greek pilots being trained at Habbaniya also joined in the RAF attack.^[49] Within minutes the Iraqis on the escarpment replied by shelling the base, damaging some planes on the ground. The Royal Iraqi Air Force (RIrAF) also joined in the fray over Habbaniya.^[9] RAF attacks were also made against Iraqi air fields near Baghdad, which resulted in 22 aircraft being destroyed on the ground;^[47] further attacks weチ◯コre made against the railway and Iraqi positions near Shaibah, with the loss of two planes.^[9] Throughout the day, the pilots from Habbaniya flew 193 sorties^[9] and claimed direct hits on Iraqi transports, armoured cars and artillery pieces;^[50] however five aircraft had been destroyed and several others had been put out of service. On the base 13 people had lost their lives and a further 29 wounded, including nine civilians.^[9]

By the end of the day, the Iraqi force outside of Habbaniya had grown to roughly a brigade.^[51]

The British attack on 2 May took the Iraqis completely by surprise. While the Iraqis on the escarpment carried live ammunition, many Iraqi soldiers were under the impression that they were on a training exercise. Rashid Ali and the members of the Golden Square were shocked by the fact that the British defenders at RAF Habbaniya were prepared to fight rather than negotiate a peaceful surrender. To compound the surprise and shock, many members of the Muslim Iraqi army were preparing for morning prayers when the attack was launched. When the news reached the Grand Mufti in Baghdad, he immediately declared a jihad against the United Kingdom. In addition, the flow of Iraq Petroleum Company oil to Haifa was completely severed.^[52]

On 3 May, the British bombing of the Iraqis continued; troop and gun positions on the plateau were targeted as well as the supply line to Baghdad. The RIrAF base at Rashid was also attacked^[51] and an Iraqi Savoia SM 79 bomber was intercepted and shot down heading for Habbaniya.^[50] The following day further air attacks were carried out on RIrA troop positions and the RIrAF. A bombing raid was conducted by eight Wellington bombers on Rashid, which was briefly engaged by Iraqi fighters but no losses were suffered. Bristol Blenheims, escorted by Hurricanes, also conducted strafing attacks against airfields at Baghdad, Rashid and Mosul.^[51]

On 5 May, due to a car accident, Air Vice-Marshal Smart was evacuated to Basra and then onward to India. Colonel Roberts assumed de facto command of the land operations at RAF Habbaniya after the departure of Smart.^[53] Air Vice-Marshal John D'Albiac, from Greece, was to take command over aerial forces at Habbaniya^[54] and of all RAF forces in Iraq. Further aerial attacks were conducted against the plateau during the day and following nightfall^[51] Colonel Roberts ordered a sortie by the King's Own Royal Regiment (1st KORR) against the Iraqi positions on the plateau. The attack was supported by the Assyrian levies, some RAF armoured cars and two First World War-era 4.5-inch howitzers. The 4.5 in howitzers had been put in working order by some British gunners who had previously been decorating the entrance of the base's officers' mess.^[29][55]

Late on 6 May, the Iraqis besieging Habbaniya pulled out. By dawn on Wednesday 7 May, RAF armoured cars reconnoitred the top of the escarpment and reported it to be deserted. The Iraqi force had abandoned substantial quantities of arms and equipment; the British garrison gained six Czechoslovakian-built 3.7 inch howitzers along with 2,400 shells, one 18-pounder gun, one Italian tank, ten Crossley armoured cars, 79 trucks, three 20 mm anti-aircraft guns with 2,500 shells, 45 Bren light machine-guns, eleven Vickers machine guns, and 340 rifles with 500,000 rounds of ammunition.^[56]

The investment of Habbaniya, by Iraqi forces, had come to an end. The British garrison had suffered 13 men killed, 21 badly wounded, and four men were suffering battle fatigue. The garrison had inflicted between 500 and 1000 casualties on the besieging force, and numerous more men had been taken prisoner. On 6 May alone, 408 Iraqi troops were captured.^[56] The Chiefs-of-Staff now ordered that it was essential to continue to hit the Iraqi armed forces hard by every means available but avoiding direct attacks on the civilian population. The British objective was to safeguard British interests from Axis intervention in Iraq, to defeat the rebels and discredit Rashid's government.^[7]

Meanwhile, Iraqi reinforcements were approaching Habbaniya. RAF armoured cars, reconnoitring ahead, soon discovered the village of Sin el Dhibban, on the Fallujah road, occupied by Iraqi troops. The 1st KORR and the Assyrian levies, supported by the RAF armoured cars, assaulted the position driving the Iraqis out and taking over 300 prisoners. The Iraqi force retreating from Habbaniya met with an Iraqi column moving towards Habbaniya from Fallujah in the afternoon. The two Iraqi forces met around 5マイル (8.0 km) east of Habbaniya on the Fallujah road. The reinforcing Iraqi column was soon spotted and 40 aircraft from RAF Habbaniya arrived to attack; the two Iraqi columns were paralysed and within two hours, more than 1,000 Iraqi casualties were inflicted and further prisoners were taken.^[29][51] Later in the afternoon Iraqi aircraft carried out three raids on the airbase and inflicted some damage.^[51]

Also on 7 May, apparently unaware of Smart's injury, Churchill sent the following message to Smart:

Your vigorous and splendid action has largely restored the situation. We are all watching the grand fight you are making. All possible aid will be sent. Keep it up!^[57]

Over the course of the next few days, the RAF, from Habbaniya and Shaibah, effectively eliminated the RIrAF. However, from 11 May, German Air Force (Luftwaffe) aircraft took the place of the Iraqi aircraft.^{[54][nb 7]}

During the time leading up to the coup d'état, Rashid Ali's supporters had been informed that Germany was willing to recognise the independence of Iraq from the British Empire. There had also been discussions on war material being sent to support the Iraqis and other Arab factions in fighting the British.^[要出典]

On 3 May, German Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop persuaded German dictator Adolf Hitler to secretly return Dr. Fritz Grobba to Iraq to head up a diplomatic mission to channel support to the Rashid Ali regime. The British quickly learned of the German arrangements through intercepted Italian diplomatic transmissions.^[58]

Vichy France, which controlled neighbouring Syria, became keen to facilitate any agreement between Iraq, Italy and Germany.^[59] Key Vichy figure Admiral Darlan was fully supportive of agreements with the Germans in order to promote long-term French aims, and had become increasingly incensed by British naval attacks on Vichy shipping, which sometimes brought the Royal Navy into direct confrontation with Vichy military forces.^[59] It was therefore proposed that Axis access to Iraq would be facilitated via French-held Syria.^[59]

On 6 May, in accordance with the Paris Protocols, Germany concluded a deal with the Vichy French government to release war materials, including aircraft, from sealed stockpiles in Syria and transport them to the Iraqis. The French also agreed to allow passage of other weapons and material as well as loaning several airbases in northern Syria, to Germany, for the transport of German aircraft to Iraq.^[60] Between 9 May and the end of the month, about one-hundred German and about twenty Italian aircraft landed on Syrian airfields.^[61] Darlan had actually ensured that the Protocols included a proposal that the French would launch an offensive against the British-held Iraqi oilfields and the oil would be made available to the Germans.^[62]

On 6 May, the Luftwaffe ordered Colonel Werner Junck to take a small force to Iraq, to operate out of Mosul. Between 10 and 15 May the aircraft arrived in Mosul via Vichy French airbases, in Syria, and then commenced regular aerial attacks on British forces. The arrival of these aircraft was the direct result of fevered consultations between Baghdad and Berlin in the days following RAF strikes on the Iraqi forces above Habbaniya. The Luftwaffe force, under the direction of Lieutenant General Hans Jeschonnek, was named "Flyer Command Iraq" (Fliegerführer Irak)^{[nb 8]} and was under the tactical command of Colonel Junck. On 11 May, the first three Luftwaffe planes arrived at Mosul via Syria. At least 20 bombers were initially promised; however, in the end Junck's unit consisted of between 21 and 29 aircraft, all painted with Royal Iraqi Air Force markings.^{[4][64][58][nb 9]}

Major Axel von Blomberg was sent to Iraq with Sonderstab F ("Special Staff F"), the German military mission commanded by General Hellmuth Felmy. He was to command a Brandenburgers Commando reconnaissance group in Iraq that was to precede Fliegerführer Irak.^[65] He was also tasked with integrating Fliegerführer Irak with Iraqi forces in operations against the British.^[58] On 15 May, he flew from Mosul to Baghdad. On its approach to Baghdad, the aircraft was engaged by Iraqi ground fire, and von Blomberg was killed.^[66]

At this time, Germany and the Soviet Union were still allies (due to the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact of 1939) and this was reflected in Soviet actions regarding Iraq. On 12 May, the Soviet Union recognised Rashid Ali's "National Defence Government."^[67] An Iraqi-Soviet exchange of notes established diplomatic relations between the two governments.^[68]

On 13 May, the first trainload of supplies, from Syria, arrived in Mosul via Turkey. The Iraqis took delivery of 15,500 rifles, with six million rounds of ammunition, 200 machine guns, with 900 belts of ammunition, and four 75 mm field guns together with 10,000 shells. Two additional deliveries were made on 26 and 28 May, which included eight 155 mm guns, with 6,000 shells, 354 machine pistols, 30,000 grenades, and 32 trucks.^[69]

On 14 May, according to Winston Churchill, the RAF was authorised to act against German aircraft in Syria and on Vichy French airfields.^[70] On the same day, two over-laden Heinkel 111 bombers were left in Palmyra in central Syria because they had damaged rear wheels. British fighters entered French air space and strafed and disabled the damaged Heinkels.^[69] On 15 May an attack was made on German aircraft on the ground at Damascus, killing a French officer in the process.^[71]

By 18 May, Junck's force had been whittled down to 8 Messerschmitt Bf 110 fighters, 4 Heinkel He 111 bombers, and 2 Junkers Ju 52 transports. This represented roughly a 30 percent loss of his original force. With few replacements available, no spares, poor fuel, and aggressive attacks by the British, this rate of attrition did not bode well for Fliegerführer Irak. Indeed, near the end of May, Junck had lost 14 Messerschmitts and 5 Heinkels.^[72] On 18 May four Vichy Morane 406s chased British aircraft flying above Syria, and another three Moranes attacked British Bristol Blenheims near Damascus without causing damage.^[73] On 19 May another British aerial attack near Damascus damaged several French aircraft and wounded a French soldier, while on 20 May British aircraft intentionally shot up six French aircraft and fifty vehicles.^[74]

More dogfights between Vichy and British aircraft took place on 24 May, as well as a British sabotage mission by 13 sappers on the Aleppo-Mosul railway line, which led to a French armoured car firing on the British.^[75] Further British-French aerial combat occurred on 28 May, in which a Blenheim was shot down by a French fighter, causing the death of all of its crew.^[75] On the same day, French Morane fighters escorted four Nazi Ju52s near Nerab in eastern Syria.^[75] More Vichy-British aerial combat occurred on 31 May.^[76]

Britain was incensed that Vichy had assisted Italy and Germany in their attacks on the British in Iraq; attacks that would not have been possible if it was not for the connivance of the Vichy French.^[77] The Vichyite actions ensured Britain began preparing for an invasion of Syria, which ultimately led to the Syria-Lebanon campaign of June–July.^[76]

On 27 May, after being invited by Germany, 12 Italian Fiat CR.42s of the 155.^a Squadriglia (renamed Squadriglia speciale Irak) of the Regia Aeronautica Italiana (Royal Italian Air Force) arrived at Mosul to operate under German command.^[5] Also present were a Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 and Savoia-Marchetti SM.81 acting as pathfinder aircraft, which were stationed in Aleppo; personnel and equipment were brought in on three Savoia-Marchetti SM.82s.^[78] By 29 May, Italian aircraft were reported in the skies over Baghdad.^[79] Churchill claimed that the Italian aircraft accomplished nothing,^[80] but on 29 May near Khan Nuqta the Italians intercepted a flight of Hawker Audaxes escorted by Gloster Gladiators of No. 94 Squadron. In the resulting combat, two Gladiators were lost for one CR.42 shot down by Wing Commander Wightman. This was the final aerial battle of the Anglo-Iraqi War.^[78] The SM.79 was destroyed on the ground in Aleppo by RAF bombers. Three CR.42s were damaged and had to be abandoned during the Axis withdrawal from Iraq. The remaining Italian aircraft were evacuated at the end of May and used to defend Pantelleria.^[81]

Plans were drawn up to supply troops but the German high command was hesitant and required the permission of Turkey for passage. In the end the Luftwaffe found conditions in Iraq intolerable, as spare parts were not available and even the quality of aircraft fuel was far below the Luftwaffe's requirements. With each passing day fewer aircraft remained serviceable and ultimately, all Luftwaffe personnel were evacuated on the last remaining Heinkel He 111.^[要出典]

On 2 May, the day AVM Smart launched his airstrikes, Wavell continued to urge for further diplomatic action to be taken with the Iraqi government to end the current situation and accept the Turkish government's offer of mediation. He was informed by the Defence Committee that there would be no accepting the Turkish offer and that the situation in Iraq had to be restored.

Before Smart launched his airstrikes on 2 May, members of the Iraqi Desert Police had seized the fort at Rutbah for the "National Defence Government."^[82] On 1 May, the police opened fire on British workers in Rutbah.^[83] In response to these Iraqi actions, Major-General Clark had ordered the mechanised squadron of the Transjordan Frontier Force (TJFF), which was based at H4 pumping station, to seize the fort for the British. When the members of the TJFF refused, they were marched back to H3 and disarmed.^[82]

By the end of the first day of airstrikes, there had been reports that elements of the Royal Iraqi Army (RIrA) were advancing on the town of Rutbah.^[31] C Company of the 1st Battalion The Essex Regiment were ordered to travel from Palestine to H4, between Haifa and Iraq; from here the company would join a detachment of RAF armoured cars and defend the position from the Iraqi rebels.^[84]

On 4 May, Churchill ordered Wavell to dispatch a force from Palestine.^[85] On 5 May, Wavell was placed in command of operations in northern Iraq and General Maitland Wilson was called back from Greece to take command of forces in Palestine and Transjordan. The Defence Committee and chiefs-of-staff rationale for taking military action against the Iraqi rebels was that they needed to secure the country from Axis intervention and considered Rashid Ali to have been conspiring with the Axis powers.^[86] The Chiefs-of-Staff accepted full responsibility for the dispatch of troops to Iraq.^[7]

On 8 May a column of the Arab Legion, under Glubb Pasha, reached the fort at Rutbah.^[3] They picketed the ground surrounding the fort, to wait the RAF bombardment. The fort was defended by approximately 100 policemen, the majority of them being Iraqi Desert Police.^[87] The H4-based Blenheims of 203 Squadron arrived and bombed the fort, and thinking that they had surrendered, left. The fort did not surrender and the RAF returned twice that day to bomb the fort without success.

The next day, the RAF continued to bomb the fort at intermittent intervals. One plane sustained such heavy small-arms fire that it crashed on the way home, killing the pilot. That evening, 40 trucks armed with machine guns arrived at the fort to reinforce the garrison. Half of the trucks were irregulars under the command of Fawzi al-Qawuqji and the other half were Iraqi Desert Police. Glubb decided to withdraw the troops back to H3 to await the reinforcement of the main column.

The Arab Legion returned to H3 on the morning of 10 May, and found No. 2 Armoured Car Company RAF under Squadron Leader Michael Casano waiting there. They had been sent up ahead of the main column to assist the Arab Legion in taking Rutbah. Casano took his RAF armoured cars to Rutbah whilst the Arab Legion replenished their supplies at H3. Casano's armoured cars fought an action against al-Qawuqji's trucks for most of the rest of the day, and although the result was not decisive the trucks retired to east under the cover of dark to leave the garrison to its fate. That night the RAF succeeded in a night bombing, with several bombs landing inside the fort.

Following the withdrawal of al-Qawuqji's trucks and the successful bombing by the RAF, the garrison withdrew from the fort under the cover of dark. In the morning, the Arab Legion column arrived and garrisoned the fort whilst Casano's armoured cars continued to fight remnants of the Iraqi Desert Police's forces.^[88]

The force put together in Palestine by Wavell was codenamed Habforce, short for Habbaniya Force.^[89] The force was placed under the command of Major-General George Clark, who was the commander of the 1st Cavalry Division. After Wavell complained that using any of the force stationed in Palestine for service in Iraq would put Palestine and Egypt at risk, Churchill wrote Hastings Ismay, Secretary of the Chiefs-of-Staff Committee, and asked: "Why would the force mentioned, which seems considerable, be deemed insufficient to deal with the Iraq Army?" Concerning the 1st Cavalry Division specifically, he wrote: "Fancy having kept the cavalry division in Palestine all this time without having the rudiments of a mobile column organised!"^[90] On balance, Wavell wrote that the 1st Cavalry Division in Palestine had been stripped of its artillery, its engineers, its signals, and its transport to provide for the needs of other formations in Greece, North Africa, and East Africa. While one motorised cavalry brigade could be provided, this was only possible by pooling the whole of the divisional motor transport.^[91]

It was after the TJFF refused to enter Iraq that Clark decided to divide Habforce into two columns.^[82][92] The first column was a flying column^[83] codenamed Kingcol. Kingcol was named after its commanding officer, Brigadier James Kingstone,^[89] and was composed of the 4th Cavalry Brigade, two companies of the 1st battalion The Essex Regiment, the Number 2 Armoured Car Company RAF, and 237 Field Battery of 25 pounder howitzers from 60th (North Midland) Field Regiment, Royal Artillery.^[93] The second column, the Habforce main force, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel J. S. Nichols, was composed of the remaining elements of the 1st battalion The Essex Regiment, the remainder of the 60th Field Regiment, RA, one anti-tank battery, and ancillary services. In addition to Kingcol and the Habforce main force, there was available to Major-General Clark a 400-man strong detachment of the Arab Legion (al-Jaysh al-Arabī)^[3][94] in the Emirate of Transjordan. The Arab Legion consisted of three mechanised squadrons^[42] transported in a mixture of civilian Ford trucks and equipped with home-made armoured cars.^[95] Unlike the TJFF, the Arab Legion was not part of the British Army. Instead, the Arab Legion was the regular Army of Transjordan and it was commanded by Lieutenant-General John Bagot Glubb, also known as "Glubb Pasha."^[96]

During the morning of 11 May, Kingcol departed from Haifa^[94] with orders to reach Habbaniya as quickly as possible.^[83] The occasion was the last all-horse operation in British military history.^[97] On 13 May, Kingcol arrived in Rutbah but found no military presence there. Glubb Pasha and the Arab Legion had already moved on. The flying column under Brigadier Kingstone then conducted maintenance at Rutbah before moving on themselves. On 15 May, the first contact was made with the Iraqi military when a Blenheim bomber strafed the column and dropped a bomb; no damage was inflicted and no casualties were sustained.^{[98][nb 10]} On 16 May, further bombing attacks were made against the column when it was attacked by the Luftwaffe, again no damage was sustained but there were a few casualties.^[54][99]

Also on 15 May, Fraser went sick and was replaced as the commander of the 10th Indian Division.^[100] His illness had led to him losing the confidence of his own staff and he was replaced by the newly promoted Major-General William Slim. Slim would go on to show himself as one of the most dynamic and innovative British commanders of the war.^[30] Also in early May, Longmore was replaced as Air Officer Commanding in the Middle East by his deputy, Sir Arthur Tedder.^[17]

During the late evening of 17 May, Kingcol reached the vicinity of Habbaniya. The next morning the column entered the RAF base^[99][101] and throughout the day the remainder of the 1st battalion The Essex Regiment were airlifted into the base.^[102] The force dispatched from Palestine to relieve the Iraqi siege of RAF Habbaniya arrived about 12 days after the siege was lifted.^[79]

With Habbaniya secure, the next objective for British forces was to secure the town of Fallujah as a preliminary objective before being able to march on Baghdad.^[54] An Iraqi Brigade group was holding the town and bridge of Fallujah denying the road to Baghdad; a further Brigade group was holding the town of Ramadi, west of Habbaniya, barring all movement westwards.^[103] Colonel Roberts dismissed the idea of attacking Ramadi because it was still garrisoned heavily by the Iraqi Army and was largely cut off by self-imposed flooding. Roberts would leave Ramadi isolated and, instead, secure the strategically important bridge over the Euphrates at Fallujah.^[104]

In the week following the withdrawal of the Iraqi forces near Habbaniya, Colonel Roberts formed what became known as the Habbaniya Brigade. The brigade was formed by grouping the 1st battalion The Essex Regiment from Kingcol with further infantry reinforcements that had arrived from Basra, the 2nd battalion 4th Gurkha Rifles, and some light artillery.^[102][105]

During the night of 17–18 May, elements of the Gurkha battalion, a company of RAF Assyrian Levies, RAF Armoured Cars and some captured Iraqi howitzers crossed the Euphrates using improvised cable ferries.^{[nb 11]} They crossed the river at Sin el Dhibban and approached Fallujah from the village of Saqlawiyah. During the early hours of the day, one company of the 1st battalion KORR were air transported by 4 Valentias and landed on the Baghdad road beyond the town near Notch Fall. A company of RAF Assyrian Levies, supported by artillery from Kingcol, was ordered to secure the bridge across the river. Throughout the day the RAF bombed positions in the town and along the Baghdad road, avoiding a general bombardment of the town because of the civilian population. On 19 May 57 aircraft began bombarding Iraqi positions within and around Fallujah before dropping leaflets requesting the garrison to surrender; no response was given and further bombing operations took place. The RAF dropped ten tons of bombs on Fallujah in 134 sorties.^[107]

During the afternoon a ten-minute bombardment of Iraqi trenches near the bridge was made before the Assyrian Levies advanced, covered by artillery fire. Facing little opposition they captured the bridge within 30 minutes; they were then met by an Iraqi envoy who offered the surrender of the garrison and the town. 300 prisoners were taken and no casualties had been sustained by the British force.^{[108][109][110]} The Luftwaffe responded to the British capture of the city by attacking the Habbaniya airfield, destroying and damaging several aircraft and inflicting a number of casualties.^[111] On 18 May, Major-General Clark and AVM D'Albiac arrived in Habbaniya by air. They determined not to interfere with the ongoing operations of Colonel Roberts.^[105] On 21 May, having secured Fallujah, Roberts returned to Shaibah and to his duties with the 10th Indian Infantry Division.^[107]

On 22 May, the Iraqi 6th Infantry Brigade, of the Iraqi 3rd Infantry Division, conducted a counter-attack against the British forces within Fallujah. The Iraqi attack started at 02:30 hours supported by a number of Italian-built L3/35 light tanks. By 03:00 the Iraqis reached the north-eastern outskirts of the town. Two light tanks, which had penetrated into the town, were quickly destroyed. By dawn British counter-attacks had pushed the Iraqis out of north-eastern Fallujah. The Iraqis now switched their attack to the south-eastern edge of the town. But this attack met stiff resistance from the start and made no progress. By 10:00 Kingstone arrived with reinforcements, from Habbaniya, who were immediately thrown into battle. The newly arrived infantry companies, of the Essex Regiment, methodically cleared the Iraqi positions house-by-house. By 18:00 the remaining Iraqis had fled or were taken prisoner, sniper fire was silenced, six Iraqi light tanks were captured, and the town was secure.^[112] On 23 May, aircraft of Fliegerführer Irak made a belated appearance. British positions at Fallujah were strafed on three separate occasions. But, while a nuisance, the attacks by the Luftwaffe accomplished little. Only one day earlier an air assault coordinated with Iraqi ground forces might have changed the outcome of the counter-attack.^[113]

During this period of time, Glubb Pasha's Legionnaires dominated the tribal country north of Fallujah between the Euphrates and the Tigris, an area known as Jezireh. Lieutenant-General Glubb had been instructed to persuade the local tribes to stop supporting Rashid Ali's government. Using a combination of propaganda and raids against Iraqi government posts, his actions proved to be remarkably successful.^[114] The British also used this period of time to increase air activity against the northern airfields of the Luftwaffe and to finally crush the German effort to support the Iraqis.^[115]

In response to the initial Iraqi moves, the 10th Indian Infantry Division, under Major-General Fraser, occupied Basra airport, the city's docks, and the power station.^[38] Elements of the 20th Indian Infantry Brigade, under Brigadier Powell, were used to occupy these sites. Between 18 and 29 April, two convoys had landed this brigade in the Basra area. 2nd battalion 8th Gurkha Rifles guarded the RAF airfield at Shabaih, 3rd battalion 11th Sikh Regiment secured the Maqil docks, and 2nd battalion 7th Gurkha Rifles were held in reserve.^[116] Otherwise, no major operations took place in the Basra area. The principal difficulty was that there were insufficient troops to take over Maqil, Ashar, and Basra City concurrently. While the Iraqi troops in Basra agreed to withdraw on 2 May, they failed to do so.^[79] On 6 May, the 21st Indian Infantry Brigade under the command of Brigadier Charles Joseph Weld arrived and disembarked at Basra. This was the 10th Indian Infantry Division's second brigade to arrive in Iraq.^[116] The 21st Indian Infantry Brigade included 4th battalion 13th Frontier Force Rifles,^{[nb 12]} 2nd battalion 4th Gurkha Rifles, and 2nd battalion 10th Gurkha Rifles.

Starting on 7 May and ending 8 May, elements of the 20th Indian Infantry Brigade and the 21st Indian Infantry Brigade captured Ashar, near Basra. Ashar was well defended and the Iraqi defenders inflicted a number of casualties on the British attackers. The British units involved were A, B, C, and D companies of 2nd battalion 8th Gurkha Rifles and a half section of Rolls Royce armoured cars from 4th battalion 13th Frontier Force Rifles. 2nd battalion 4th Gurkha Rifles were held in reserve. As a result of the successful action against Ashar, Basra City was secured without a fight. However, armed resistance from Iraqi police and Army units continued until 17 May.^[117] While the Basra area was now secured, it was flood season in Iraq, and the difficulty of northward movement from Basra by rail, road, or river towards Baghdad stifled further operations. In addition, Iraqi forces occupied points along the Tigris and along the railway to further discourage northward movement.^[11]

On 8 May, operations in Iraq were passed, from under the control of Auchinleck's India Command, to the command of Wavell's Middle East Command.^[7][118] Lieutenant-General Edward Quinan arrived from India to replace Fraser as commander of Iraqforce. Quinan's immediate task was to secure Basra as a base. He was ordered by Wavell not to advance north until the co-operation of the local tribes was fully assured. Quinan could also not contemplate any move north for three months on account of the flooding of the Tigris and Euphrates.^[7][119] Directives were issued to Quinan prior to his assuming command. On 2 May, he had been directed as follows: "(a) Develop and organise the port of Basra to any extent necessary to enable such forces, our own or Allied, as might be required to operate in the Middle East including Egypt, Turkey, Iraq, and Iran, to be maintained. (b) Secure control of all means of communication, including all aerodromes and landing grounds in Iraq, and develop these to the extent requisite to enable the Port of Basra to function to its fullest capacity." Quinan was further instructed to "begin at once to plan a system of defences to protect the Basra Base against attack by armoured forces supported by strong air forces, and also to be ready to take special measures to protect: (i) Royal Air Force installations and personnel at Habbaniya and Shaiba. (ii) The lives of British subjects in Baghdad and elsewhere in Iraq. (iii) The Kirkuk oilfields and the pipe line to Haifa." Lastly, Quinan was directed "to make plans to protect the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company's installations and its British employees in South West Iran if necessary." Quinan was informed that "it was the intention to increase his force up to three infantry divisions and possibly also an armoured division, as soon as these troops could be despatched from India."^[27]

On 23 May, Wavell flew to Basra to discuss further reinforcements and operations in Iraq with Auchinleck. Additionally, he instructed Quinan, commanding the Indian forces there, to make plans for an advance from Basra towards Baghdad.^[11] On 27 May, the forces from Basra started to advance northwards. In Operation Regulta, the 20th Indian Infantry Brigade, known as the "Euphrates Brigade", advanced along the Euphrates by boat and by road. In Operation Regatta, the 21st Indian Infantry Brigade, known as the "Tigris Brigade", advanced up the Tigris by boat to Kut.^[120][121] On 30 May, the 10th Indian Infantry Division's third brigade, 25th Indian Infantry Brigade under Brigadier Ronald Mountain, arrived and disembarked at Basra. The 25th Indian Infantry Brigade included 3rd battalion 9th Jat Regiment, 2nd battalion 11th Royal Sikh Regiment, and 1st battalion 5th Mahratta Light Infantry.^[122] In June 1941, additional British forces arrived in Basra from India. On 9 June, the 17th Indian Infantry Brigade arrived and, on 16 June, the 24th Indian Infantry Brigade arrived.^[120]

The British forces from Habbaniya pressed on to Baghdad after the defence of Fallujah. Major-General Clark decided to maintain the momentum because he suspected that the Iraqis did not appreciate just how small and vulnerable his forces actually were. Clark had a total of about 1,450 men to attack at least 20,000 Iraqi defenders. However, Clark did enjoy an advantage in the air.^[123]

On the night of 27 May, the British advance on Baghdad began. The advance made slow progress and was hindered by extensive inundations and by the many destroyed bridges over the irrigation waterways which had to be crossed.^[80] Faced with Clark's advance, the government of Rashid Ali collapsed. On 29 May, Rashid Ali, the Grand Mufti, and many members of the "National Defence Government" fled to Persia. After Persia, they went on to Germany. On the morning of 31 May, the Mayor of Baghdad and a delegation approached British forces at the Washash Bridge. With the Mayor was Sir Kinahan Cornwallis, the British Ambassador, who had been confined to the British Embassy in Baghdad for the past four weeks.^[124] Terms were quickly reached and an armistice was signed.^[125][126] The Iraqi armed forces in the vicinity of Baghdad still greatly outnumbered the British and the British decided not to occupy Baghdad immediately. This was done partly to disguise the weakness of British forces outside the city.^[127] On 1 June, Prince 'Abd al-Ilah returned to Baghdad as the Regent and the monarchy and a pro-British government were put back in place. On 2 June, Jamil al-Midfai was named Prime Minister.^[127]

In the immediate aftermath of the fall of Rashid Ali's "National Defence Government" and the armistice, Baghdad was torn apart by rioting and looting.^[79] Much of the violence was channelled towards the city's Jewish Quarter. Over 180 Jewish residents lost their lives and about 850 were injured before the Iraqi police were ordered to restore order with live ammunition.^[128][127]

At least two British accounts of the conflict praised the efforts of the air and ground forces at RAF Habbaniya. According to Churchill, the landing of the 20th Indian Infantry Brigade at Basra on 18 April was "timely." In his opinion, the landing forced Rashid Ali into premature action. However, Churchill added that the "spirited defence" of Habbaniya by the Flying School was a "prime factor" in British success.^[129] Wavell wrote that the "gallant defence" of Habbaniya and the bold advance of Habforce discouraged the Iraqi Army, while the Germans in their turn were prevented from sending further reinforcements by "the desperate resistance of our troops in Crete, and their crippling losses in men and aircraft."^[124]

On 18 June, Lieutenant-General Quinan was given command of all British and Commonwealth forces in Iraq. Before this, Iraqforce was more or less limited to the forces landed at and advancing from Basra.^[79]

After the Anglo-Iraq War, elements of Iraqforce (known as Iraq Command from 21 June) were used to attack the Vichy French-held Mandate of Syria during the Syria-Lebanon campaign, which started 8 June and ended 14 July. Iraq Command (known as Persia and Iraq Force (Paiforce from 1 September) was also used to attack Persia during the Anglo-Soviet invasion of Persia, which took place in August to September 1941. Forward defences against a possible German invasion from the north through the Caucasus were created in 1942, and the strength of Paiforce peaked at the equivalent of over 10 brigades before the Russians halted the German threat at the Battle of Stalingrad. After 1942, Iraq and Persia were used to transit war material to the Soviet Union and the British military presence became mainly lines of communication troops.

On 20 June, Churchill told Wavell that he was to be replaced by Auchinleck.^[130] Of Wavell, Auchinleck wrote: "In no sense do I wish to infer that I found an unsatisfactory situation on my arrival – far from it. Not only was I greatly impressed by the solid foundations laid by my predecessor, but I was also able the better to appreciate the vastness of the problems with which he had been confronted and the greatness of his achievements, in a command in which some 40 different languages are spoken by the British and Allied Forces."^[131]

British forces were to remain in Iraq until 26 October 1947 and the country remained effectively under British control.^[要出典] The British considered the occupation of Iraq necessary to ensure that access to its strategic oil resources be maintained. On 18 August 1942, General Maitland Wilson was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Persia and Iraq Command. By 15 September, he was headquartered in Baghdad. Wilson's primary task was "to secure at all costs from land and air attack the oil fields and oil installations in Persia and Iraq." His secondary task was "to ensure the transport from the Persian Gulf ports of supplies to Russia to the maximum extent possible without prejudicing [his] primary task."^[132]

While Rashid Ali and his supporters were in alliance with the Fascist Regime in Italy^[133] the war demonstrated that Iraq's independence was at best conditional on British approval of the government's actions.^[要出典] Rashid Ali and the Mufti of Jerusalem fled to Persia, then to Turkey, then to Italy, and finally to Berlin, Germany, where Ali was welcomed by Hitler as head of the Iraqi government-in-exile.^[要出典]

The British and Commonwealth system of battle honours recognised participation in the Anglo-Iraq War by the award to 16 units of the battle honour Iraq 1941, for service in Iraq between 2–31 May 1941. The award was accompanied by honours for three actions during the war: Defence of Habbaniya awarded to one unit for operations against the Iraqi rebels between 2–6 May, Falluja awarded to two units for operations against the Iraqi rebels between 19–22 May, and Baghdad 1941 awarded to two units for operations against the Iraqi rebels between 28–31 May.^[134]

• Jackson, Ashley (2018). Persian Gulf Command: A History of the Second World War in Iran and Iraq. New Haven: Yale University Press. ISBN 978-0-300-22196-1