Under Saddam Hussein's rule it fought the Kurds in 1961–70, being able to reverse most of the Kurdish gains of their initial offensive of autumn 1961.

[1] In 1977-78 it was in the north, with its headquarters in Kirkuk as part of the 1st Corps, including five brigades (two reserve) according to British military reports now accessible at The National Archives, Kew.

It was initially assigned to 2nd Corps in the Qasr as Sabiyah area, in mid January 1991,[3] but had moved to just north of Al Jahra on 24 February 1991.

After the creation of the New Iraqi Army by the Coalition Provisional Authority, the division was reformed.

Its subordinate formations included: Three battalions from what was then the Iraqi Army's 4th Brigade graduated basic training in a "march-on" ceremony at the Al Kasik Military Training Base west of Mosul, Oct. 15, 2004.