Sadam

Saddam Hussein (often spelled Saddam; transliterations include Sadam; 28 April 1937 – 30 December 2006) was an Iraqi politician who led Iraq as president from 1979 to 2003 and as prime minister for most of that period. A prominent member of the Ba'ath Party, he centralized power through the party, the state, and a wide security apparatus, and governed with a strong personal leadership style.

Born in Al-Awja near Tikrit, Saddam joined the Ba'ath Party in the 1950s and helped secure the party's grip on power after a 1968 coup. Once in control, he consolidated authority by eliminating rivals, suppressing political opposition, and building a robust security network.

His rule combined modernization efforts with extensive repression and human rights abuses. The regime oversaw campaigns against political opponents, independent groups, and ethnic minorities. During the late 1980s, the Anfal campaign against Kurdish populations resulted in widespread casualties and mass graves. Iraq also used chemical weapons during the Iran–Iraq War (1980–1988), a source of international condemnation.

In foreign policy, Saddam led Iraq through the Iran–Iraq War, a protracted conflict that strained the economy but solidified his grip on power. In 1990, Iraq invaded Kuwait, prompting the Gulf War and a long period of UN sanctions that affected Iraqi society and economy throughout the 1990s.

In 2003, a U.S.-led coalition invaded Iraq, leading to the collapse of Saddam's regime. He was captured later that year, tried by the Iraqi Special Tribunal, and executed in 2006. His era left a lasting and debated impact on Iraq and the broader Middle East, shaping subsequent political and sectarian dynamics.

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