Saddam Hussein

Saddam Hussein (1937-2006) was the President of Iraq from 1979 to 2003. Born in al-Awja, near Tikrit, Iraq, he was a key figure in the Ba'ath Party, which promoted Arab nationalism and socialism. Hussein rose to prominence through his role in the party and its coup in 1968. As president, he pursued aggressive policies including the Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988) and the invasion of Kuwait in 1990, which led to the Gulf War. His regime was marked by widespread human rights abuses and internal repression. In 2003, following the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, he was deposed, captured, and later tried and executed for crimes against humanity.