Khalil Dabbagh

Major-General Khalil Jassim Dabbagh (Arabic: اللواء خليل جاسم الدبّاغ; 1916–1969) was a senior officer in the early Iraqi Army. He served as commander of the Mosul military zone, commander of the Light Regiments (Jash), commander of Iraqi commando units (1963–1968), and commander of the Fourth Division (1966–1967). Dabbagh is best known for his participation in the 1948 Arab–Israeli War, during which he commanded Iraqi forces in the 'Ara and Ar'ara sectors and conducted correspondence and negotiations with officers of the Israel Defense Forces. He was also involved in the organization of Palestinian auxiliary units during the war. Between 1943 and 1969, Dabbagh took part in multiple military campaigns in northern Iraq against Kurdish insurgent movements, including the 1943 Barzani revolt and later phases of the Iraqi–Kurdish conflict. During the First Iraqi–Kurdish War, he commanded operations against forces loyal to Mustafa Barzani, including campaigns in 1961 and 1963, the Iraqi Campaign on Alqosh (1963) against Kurdish and communist Al-Ansar units, and the Amadiya campaign on 9 September 1965. In June 1966, Dabbagh played a key role in thwarting the Arif Abd ar-Razzaq second coup against President Abdul Rahman Arif. He oversaw the arrest of Arif Abd ar-Razzaq and other coup participants at Mosul Airport.