However, Nuri had to tread carefully between his close relationship with Britain and dependence on pro-German Army officers and cabinet members.

Among the key figures to arrive was the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, Haj Amin al-Husseini, the Palestinian Arab nationalist leader of the failed revolt.

The Golden Square coup was launched on 1 April 1941,[1] overthrowing the Regent and installing Rashid Ali al-Gaylani as Prime Minister.

[3] On 18 April, Britain reacted by landing the Indian 20th Infantry Brigade at Basra, they first used Native Assyrian Levies especially in Habbaniyah, with elements of Iraqforce.

In the following days, the new Iraqi government moved substantial ground forces, including an infantry brigade, an artillery brigade, and 12 armoured cars as well as tanks[4] to the plateau overlooking RAF Habbaniya, the large British Royal Air Force (RAF) base beside the River Euphrates 50 miles (80 km) west of Baghdad.

[5] The Royal Iraqi Air Force, despite having aircraft that included numerous modern British-, Italian- and US-built machines, failed to defeat the RAF.

The Vichy French authorities in the Syria and Lebanon had helped the pro-Axis Iraqi nationalists and the German and Italian air forces, providing airfields for staging and refuelling.