funds. Although the extent of their training was unknown in early 1988, all recruits were instructed in the use of a rifle. Graduates were responsible for guarding government buildings and installations, and they were concentrated around sensitive centers in major towns. Militia members possessed some sophisticated arms, and it was possible that disgruntled officers contemplating a challenge to Saddam Hussein could rally the support of a force of such militiamen. The People's Army was sent into Iraqi Kurdistan before 1980 and even out of the country to such hot spots as Lebanon to fight with Palestinian guerrillas during the 1975–76 Civil War. It was only dissolved when Taha Yassin Ramadan became Vice President of Iraq in 1991. Action seen Al-Faw The First Battle of Al-Faw, fought on February 11, 1986, was a battle of the Iran–Iraq War. The Iranians launched a surprise attack against the Iraqi troops defending the al-Faw Peninsula. The Iraqi units in charge of the defenses were mostly made up of poorly trained Iraqi Popular Army conscripts that collapsed when they were suddenly attacked by the Iranian Pasdaran (Revolutionary Guard) forces. See also Iraqi Army Fedayeen Saddam National Defense Battalions References 1970 establishments in Iraq Ba'athist organizations History of the Ba'ath Party Military units and formations disestablished in 1991 Military units and formations established in 1970 Military wings of socialist parties Organizations associated with the Ba'ath Party Organizations of the 1991 uprisings in Iraq Paramilitary forces of Iraq Saddam Hussein