Iraq Levies
| Iraq Levies | |
|---|---|
Three members of the RAF Levies arrive at Liverpool aboard SS Orbita in 1946. | |
| Active | 1921–1955 |
| Country | Iraq |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Branch | British Army Royal Air Force |
| Type | Air force |
| Size | 40,000 Assyrians + Unaccounted Ethnic Groups |
| Nickname | Assyrian Levies |
| Engagements | Mahmud Barzanji revolts Kirkuk Massacre of 1924 World War II • Anglo-Iraqi War • Syria-Lebanon campaign Ahmed Barzani revolt Simko Shikak revolt (1918–1922) Simko Shikak revolt (1926) Surchi Revolt • Battle of Aqra Dagh • Defense of Jujar |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Dawid Mar Shimun Agha Petros Malik Khoshaba Mandu Zaia Malik Yaqo Malik Ismail II Zaia Giwargis |
The Iraq Levies (commonly known as the Assyrian Levies) was a predominantly Assyrian force, and the first Iraqi military force established by the British in British controlled Iraq. The Iraq Levies originated in a local armed scout force raised during the First World War. After Iraq became a British Mandate, the force was composed mostly of Assyrians but also some Kurds and Iraqi Turkmen who lived in the north of the country, while the nascent Iraqi Army was recruited first from the Arabs who had joined the Iraqi Levies and later from the general Arab population (Beth-Kamala). Eventually the Levies enlisted mainly Assyrian soldiers with British officers. The unit initially defended the northern frontiers of the Province of Mosul when Turkey claimed the province and massed its army across the frontiers. After 1928 the prime role of the Levies was to guard the Royal Air Force bases located in Iraq.