Muhammed Latif

Muhammed Latif
Allegiance Iraq Baathist Iraq (?-2003)
 Iraq (May 2004-September 2004)
Service/branch Iraqi Army
Rank Major-General
Commands held Fallujah Brigade
Battles/wars Iraq War

Muhammed Latif (Arabic: محمد لطيف ‎) is an Iraqi major general, and former member of the Baath Party. The city of Fallujah was handed over to Muhammed Latif, replacing the earlier U.S. choice, Jasim Mohammed Saleh, when it was discovered that the latter had been involved in atrocities against Kurds during the Iran-Iraq war.[1]

While there had been reports of Latif having been jailed under Saddam Hussein's reign over Iraq, no solid evidence of that has since been produced.

Jane's Intelligence Review said that he was named Mohammed Abdel Latif and that he was a former military intelligence officer.[2]

Latif was granted the right to raise an army of 1100 soldiers known as the Fallujah Brigade, who would wear their Baathist military uniforms and control the city (which US forces had proven unable to pacify). Within days, the city's mayor, Muhammed Ibrahim al-Juraissey said that there was a visible difference as the city began to calm now under Iraqi leadership once again.[3]

Nevertheless, the Fallujah Brigade dissolved and had turned over all the US weapons to the insurgency by September,[4] prompting the necessity of the Second Battle of Fallujah in November, which successfully occupied the city.

References

  1. ↑ Perry, Mark (2010). Talking to terrorists: why America must engage with its enemies. Basic Books. p. 48. Retrieved December 25, 2010.
  2. ↑ Michael Knights, Short-term stabilisation in Iraq could have long-term costs,' JIR, June 2004, 26
  3. ↑ "Trouble in town". The Age. July 1, 2004. Retrieved December 25, 2010.
  4. ↑ Kessler, Glenn. "Weapons Given to Iraq Are Missing". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2 May 2010.