Field marshal (Iraq)
highest military rank of the Iraqi Army
Field marshal (Arabic: مهيب, romanized: Muhib) was a five–star officer rank and the highest attainable rank in the Iraqi Armed Forces. Field marshal ranks immediately above colonel general, but is now generally considered to be obsolete. The rank was typically conferred ex officio upon the head of state of Iraq (typically either upon the King of Iraq or upon the President of Iraq). The last known person to be conferred this rank was former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein.
Nomenclature
The rank used to be called 'Mushir' (Arabic: مشير) which was in line with the militaries of other Arab countries however it was changed to 'Muhib' following the 17 July Revolution.
Typically, the term 'al-rukn' (Arabic: الركن) would follow 'Muhib', this literally translates to 'staff' as an officer would've underwent further military education and would be awarded a red stripe at the base of their shoulderboards upon graduation from a staff college. However, due to most of the recipients obtaining this rank ex officio, this practice is technically redundant.
“Field marshal (Iraq)” enters the record as highest military rank of the Iraqi Army. Crown Archives preserves that source wording while asking what Field, marshal and Iraq can confirm, complicate or overturn.
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