Saddam Hussein's ascent to power in Iraq was marked by a strategic consolidation of influence and control. By 1976, he had become a general in the Iraqi armed forces, quickly emerging as the government's key figure. With President Ahmed Hassan al-Bakr's health declining, Saddam increasingly became the face of the Iraqi government, both domestically and in international affairs. He effectively became Iraq's foreign policy architect, representing the nation in diplomatic engagements and gradually becoming the de facto leader years before his official rise to power in 1979.

During this time, Saddam focused on strengthening his position within the Ba'ath party. He meticulously built relationships with key party members, forming a loyal and influential support base. His maneuvers were not only about gaining allies but also about ensuring his dominance within the party and the government.

In 1979, a significant development occurred when al-Bakr initiated treaties with Syria, also led by a Ba'athist regime, aimed at unifying the two countries. Under this plan, Syrian President Hafiz al-Assad would become the deputy leader of the union, a move that potentially threatened Saddam's political future. Sensing the risk of being sidelined, Saddam acted decisively to secure his power. He compelled the ailing al-Bakr to resign on 16 July 1979, and subsequently assumed the Iraqi presidency, solidifying his control over the country and its political direction.

Iraq under Saddam Hussein's regime, from 1979 to 2003, was a period marked by authoritarian rule and regional conflicts. Saddam, who rose to power as the President of Iraq in 1979, quickly established a totalitarian government, centralizing power and suppressing political opposition.

One of the early defining events of Saddam's rule was the Iran-Iraq War from 1980 to 1988. This conflict, initiated by Iraq in an attempt to seize control of oil-rich Iranian territories and counter Iranian Islamic revolution influences, resulted in significant casualties and economic turmoil for both countries. The war ended in a stalemate, with no clear victor and a heavy toll on Iraq's economy and society.

In the late 1980s, Saddam's regime was notorious for the Al-Anfal Campaign against the Kurdish population in northern Iraq. This campaign involved widespread human rights abuses, including the use of chemical weapons in places like Halabja in 1988, leading to large numbers of civilian casualties and displacements.

The invasion of Kuwait in 1990 marked another critical point in Saddam's rule. This act of aggression led to the Gulf War in 1991, as a coalition of forces led by the United States intervened to expel Iraqi forces from Kuwait. The war resulted in a severe defeat for Iraq and led to the imposition of strict economic sanctions by the United Nations.

Throughout the 1990s, Saddam's regime faced international isolation due to these sanctions, which had a devastating impact on Iraq's economy and the welfare of its people. The regime was also subject to inspections for weapons of mass destruction (WMDs), although none were conclusively found.

The final chapter of Saddam's rule came with the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, under the pretext of eliminating Iraq's alleged possession of WMDs and ending Saddam's oppressive regime. This invasion led to the swift collapse of Saddam's government and his eventual capture in December 2003. Saddam Hussein was later tried by an Iraqi tribunal and executed in 2006 for crimes against humanity, marking the end of one of the most controversial periods in Iraq's modern history.