Iraq campaign (1941)

E85603

The Iraq campaign (1941) was a World War II military operation in which British and Commonwealth forces overthrew a pro-Axis government in Iraq to secure vital oil supplies and strategic lines of communication.


Statements (61)
Predicate Object
instanceOf World War II campaign
conflict
military campaign
alsoKnownAs 1941 Iraqi campaign
Anglo-Iraqi War
belligerent British Empire
Commonwealth forces
Fascist Italy
Kingdom of Iraq
Nazi Germany
United Kingdom NERFINISHED
Vichy France
pro-Axis Iraqi government
cause Rashid Ali al-Gaylani coup
pro-Axis coup in Iraq
commandedBy Archibald Wavell
Edward Quinan
Prince Regent 'Abd al-Ilah
Rashid Ali al-Gaylani
Salah al-Din al-Sabbagh
conflictType colonial conflict
endDate 1941-05-31
followedBy Anglo-Soviet invasion of Iran
hasParticipant Arab Legion
British Indian Army
Iraqi Army
Luftwaffe
Regia Aeronautica
Royal Air Force
Royal Navy
involves Battle of Habbaniya
advance on Baghdad
siege of RAF Habbaniya
location Kingdom of Iraq
Middle East
objective maintain British control of the air base at Habbaniya
overthrow pro-Axis Iraqi government
protect British strategic lines of communication
secure Iraqi oil fields
opposedBy Arab Legion
British India
Transjordan
United Kingdom NERFINISHED
partOf World War II
precededBy Rashid Ali coup
relatedTo Anglo-Soviet invasion of Iran
North African campaign
Syria–Lebanon campaign
result British victory
continued British control over Iraqi oil resources
defeat of pro-Axis Iraqi forces
restoration of the pro-British regent in Iraq
strengthening of British position in the Middle East
startDate 1941-04-18
strategicImportance control of Persian Gulf oil routes
protection of air route to the Soviet Union
protection of route to India
supportedBy Germany
Italy
Vichy France
theatre Middle East theatre of World War II

Referenced by (8)
Subject (surface form when different) Predicate
Iraq campaign (1941) ("Anglo-Iraqi War")
Iraq campaign (1941) ("1941 Iraqi campaign")
alsoKnownAs
Commander-in-Chief, Middle East Command ("Anglo-Iraqi War")
Iraqi Army ("Anglo-Iraqi War")
conflict
Middle East Command ("Anglo–Iraqi War")
engagedIn
Middle East theatre of World War II ("Anglo–Iraqi War")
hasPart
British Indian Army
participatedIn
Syrian–Lebanese campaign ("Anglo–Iraqi War")
precededBy

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