Abdel-Wahab al-Saadi

Staff Lieutenant General Abdul-Wahab al-Saadi or Saedi (Arabic: عبد الوهاب الساعدي‎) is the head of the Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Service (ICTS). He has been the overall operation's commander of Iraqi government forces in Battle of Baiji (2014–15), Second Battle of Tikrit, and Third Battle of Fallujah (2016), the Hawija offensive (2017) in the war against ISIL.[1][2]

Abdul-Wahab al-Saadi
Native name
عبد الوهاب الساعدي
BornAl-Thawra District, Baghdad, Iraq
Allegiance Iraq
Service/branchIraqi Counter-Terrorism Service
RankLieutenant general
Battles/warsIran–Iraq War

Iraqi Civil War

Peter Bergen wrote that al-Saadi played a critical role in the overall defeat of ISIS in Iraq.[3]

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.[4][5][6] On 10 May 2020, newly appointed prime minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi promoted him to lead the counterterrorism service.[7]

Personal life

Al-Saadi is a Shi’ite Muslim, born in Al-Thawra District, Baghdad.

Academic Background

Al-Saad 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.[8][9][10]

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References
  2. "Exclusive: Abdel Wahab al-Saadi named as commander of Hawija operations - Iraq News - Local News - Baghdadpost". www.thebaghdadpost.com. 2017-09-05. Retrieved 2019-09-28.
  3. https://edition.cnn.com/2017/12/15/opinions/it-wasnt-trump-but-this-generals-elite-soldiers-who-defeated-isis-bergen/index.html
  4. "Is this Iraqi General behind Iraq's wave of protests?". euronews. 2019-10-03. Retrieved 2019-10-05.
  5. Saadoun, Mustafa (2019-10-04). "Iran's influence seen in transfer of Iraqi war hero". Al-Monitor. Retrieved 2019-10-05.
  6. "Iraq faces political crisis after days of deadly protests | CTV News". www.ctvnews.ca. Retrieved 2019-10-05.
  7. "New Iraqi PM Orders Jailed Protesters Freed".
  8. "عبد الوهاب الساعدي.. من دراسة الفيزياء إلى قائد أبرز المعارك ضد داعش بالعراق". web.archive.org. 2019-10-03. Retrieved 2019-10-05.
  9. "من هو الفريق الركن عبد الوهاب الساعدي". web.archive.org. 2017-12-15. Retrieved 2019-10-05.
  10. "Iraq removes military commander who defeated ISIS on the ground". www.rudaw.net. Retrieved 2019-10-05.
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