Saddam Seizes Power: Iraq's Dictator Takes Control
Iraqi President Ahmed Hassan al-Bakr steps down, handing power to Saddam Hussein in a quiet transfer that solidifies one man's absolute control over the nation. This shift immediately sets Iraq on a collision course with Iran, triggering an eight-year war that reshapes the entire Middle East and claims millions of lives.
July 16, 1979
47 years ago
Key Figures & Places
What Else Happened on July 16
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Arjona’s declaration of independence thrust Muhammad ibn Yusuf into leadership, launching a career that would eventually forge the Nasrid Emirate of Granada. Th…
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