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Adnan KhairallahIraqi political and military figure
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Content:
- Biography of Adnan Khairallah
- Early Life and Relationship with Saddam Hussein
- Career and Rise in Power
- Conflict with Saddam Hussein and Tragic Death
- Legacy
Biography of Adnan Khairallah
Adnan Khairallah was an Iraqi political and military figure. He was the son-in-law of President Ahmed Hassan al-Bakr and the cousin and brother-in-law of another Iraqi president, Saddam Hussein. He served as the Minister of Defense in the governments of al-Bakr and Saddam Hussein. He died under mysterious circumstances in 1989.
Early Life and Relationship with Saddam Hussein
Adnan Khairallah was born into the family of Iraqi officer Khairallah Tulfah, who was Saddam Hussein's uncle. Hussein lived with their family in Tikrit since the age of 10 when he fled there in search of education. Growing up together, Khairallah and Hussein developed a close bond, considering themselves more like brothers than cousins. Khairallah became Hussein's best friend and supported him in the most difficult times. Later on, Saddam married Khairallah's step-sister Sajida, to whom he was engaged since infancy.
Career and Rise in Power
Adnan Khairallah married the daughter of President Ahmed Hassan al-Bakr and in October 1977, he became the Minister of Defense. As a colonel, he led the Ministry of Defense and became one of the few military representatives in the Revolutionary Command Council and the Regional Command. He began conducting purges in the army shortly after assuming the new position. Five years later, Saddam Hussein, as the president of the country, appointed Khairallah as the Vice Premier and the Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces. He was also part of a three-person committee responsible for the development of chemical weapons. Soon, Khairallah became the second most powerful figure in the state after the president.
Conflict with Saddam Hussein and Tragic Death
Adnan Khairallah, who had become the Minister of Defense and a general in the Iraqi army, gained popularity among military circles during the Iran-Iraq War. In 1988, Saddam Hussein saw an opportunity when he saw the wife of the president of Iraqi Airways. He asked her husband to grant her a divorce, but Khairallah opposed this marriage. This event caused significant strain in their relationship. In early 1989, the president accused Khairallah of failing to prevent an attempted coup. In May, Khairallah died under unknown circumstances in a helicopter crash. The official conclusion stated that his helicopter, traveling from Baghdad to northern Iraq, encountered a sandstorm. However, there is a theory that Saddam ordered explosives to be placed on the helicopter. Khairallah was buried in Tikrit.
Legacy
Adnan Khairallah was a popular figure among military circles. A monument was erected in his honor at Al-Karkh Square in Baghdad. After Saddam Hussein's downfall, many monuments dedicated to the former Iraqi president were demolished. However, Khairallah's monument was left untouched.