15 Facts About Ja'far al-Askari

When Faisal was deposed by the French in 1920, Ja'far al-Askari supported his bid for the Iraqi throne.

Ja'far Pasha al-Askari was born on 15 September 1885 in Kirkuk, when it was still part of the Ottoman Empire.

The fourth of five brothers and one sister, Ja'far al-Askari's family was of Kurdish origin.

Ja'far al-Askari's father, Mustafa Abdul Rahman al-Mudarris, was a colonel in the Ottoman Army.

Ja'far al-Askari was then sent to the Sixth Army, stationed in Baghdad.

When World War I broke out, Ja'far al-Askari first fought on the side of the Ottomans and the Triple Alliance in Libya.

Ja'far al-Askari's campaign started in the Dardanelles, after which he received the German Iron Cross and was promoted to General.

At the Battle of Agagia, Ja'far al-Askari was captured by the British-led forces and imprisoned in a citadel in Cairo with his friend, and later brother-in-law, Nuri al-Said.

Sometime after his escape attempt, Ja'far al-Askari learned about the nationalist Arab Revolt against the Ottomans led by the Hashemite leader of the Hijaz, Hussein bin Ali, the Sharif of Mecca.

Shortly thereafter, Ja'far al-Askari was appointed the Military Governor of the Aleppo Vilayet in Syria.

Faisal had never even been to Iraq, and so chose certain commanders familiar with the area to fill various posts, including Ja'far al-Askari, who was appointed Minister of Defense.

Ja'far al-Askari was elected as the president of the Chamber of Deputies in November 1930 and in November 1931.

Ja'far al-Askari's body was hastily buried along the roadside as Sidqi's supporters triumphantly took over Baghdad.

Ja'far al-Askari's death helped to undermine the legitimacy of Sidqi's government.

Ja'far al-Askari claimed Sulayman and others were plotting to assassinate King Ghazi.