Saddam Hussein (1937–2006) was an Iraqi politician who served as the fifth president of Iraq from 1979 until he was overthrown in 2003. He was a leading member of the Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party, which combined Arab nationalism and socialism. Saddam played a key role in Iraq's politics for decades, implementing policies such as nationalizing oil, diversifying the economy, and promoting public services. His rule was marked by authoritarianism, suppression of opposition, and brutal campaigns against Kurdish and Shia groups. He led Iraq through the Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988) and the invasion of Kuwait in 1990, which resulted in the Gulf War. Saddam's regime was also accused of large-scale human rights abuses and repression. In 2003, a U.S.-led coalition invaded Iraq, deposing Saddam under allegations of weapons of mass destruction and links to terrorism, which were later found to be unfounded. Saddam was captured, tried, convicted of crimes against humanity, and executed by hanging in 2006. Saddam remains a controversial figure; some view him as a defiant leader against Western imperialism, while others see him as a brutal dictator responsible for mass atrocities.
