Saddam Hussein

Saddam Hussein (Arabic: صدام حسين‎; 28 April 1937 – 30 December 2006) was an Iraqi politician who served as the fifth President of Iraq from 16 July 1979 until 9 April 2003. A leading member of the revolutionary Arab Socialist Ba’ath Party, and later, the Baghdad-based Ba’ath Party and its regional organization Ba’ath Party—Iraq Region—which espoused ba’athism, a mix of Arab nationalism and socialism, Saddam seized power in a 1968 coup d’état.

As president, Saddam established an autocratic government within his totalitarian regime which had been marked by pervasive human rights abuses across his three decades in power. He led several successful campaigns against neighboring countries such as Iran during the 1980s–1990s conflict known as the Iran–Iraq War which lasted for almost nine years from September 1980 to August 1988 resulting in one million casualties on both sides combined. During this time he also ordered multiple chemical weapons attacks against Iranian forces or civilians including at least two instances where these were used on Kurdish villages near Iraq’s border with Turkey or Iran respectively during Operation Anfal campaign between 1986 – 1989 killing over 50 thousand people mainly from minority ethnic groups living there . In addition , he engaged in consistent efforts to suppress political dissent within Iraq through state sponsored terror activities targeting opposition figures , journalists & activists whom he suspected could be potential threats to his rule .

Following Kuwait’s invasion by Iraqi troops under orders issued directly by him on 2nd August 1990 , United Nations Security Council passed Resolution 661 demanding immediate withdrawal following which international coalition force led primarily by US military initiated ‘Operation Desert Storm’ eventually pushing back out all occupying forces into Iraq while simultaneously imposing economic sanctions that would remain largely intact till fall 2003 when they were lifted after occupation period ended post US-led intervention meant oust him from office & establish new democratic government setup instead . Despite receiving death sentence upon conviction & execution shortly afterwards due various charges ranging crimes against humanity including ordering mass killings among other things ; legacy left behind remains highly controversial even today with some considering him hero while others still call despot dictator responsible for gross violation human rights violations throughout country during tenure same time others point towards significant progress made fields like healthcare infrastructure development along nation building projects implemented too .