October: Saddam showed his loyalty to Khairallah by assassinating a local government official in Tikrit, who had informed against him.

November : Baath party was removed from power.

• Saddam Hussein escaped and concentrated on restructuring the Baath Party in Iraq, he formed a security apparatus, established a new military force, and expanded party branches across the country.

• President Arif was overthrown from power by the Baath Party

• As a reward for his efforts, Saddam was appointed Deputy Chairman of the Revolutionary Command Council.

• Ahmad Hassan Al-Bakr became the new president and with him in power, Hussein became one of the most influential figures in Iraq government circles.

July : Saddam hussein become president

• Saddam Hussein constructed his first chemical warfare plant near Akashat.

December 11: A mass rally in Tehran involving a crowd of more than two million people demanded “The Shah Must Go”

Nationalization of Oil Industry: Saddam Hussein nationalizes Iraq's oil industry, leading to a significant economic boost, with oil revenues increasing from $476 million in 1968 to $26 billion in 1980.

18 February: Violent clashes between protestors and authorities in Tabriz involving government use of tanks and helicopter gunships to regain control. Thirteen fatalities.

19 August: The Cinema Rex in Abadan was burnt down killing more than 400 women and children. Both SAVAK and militant Islamists were suspected of the arson.

8 September: Protest against the Shah's rule in Jaleh Square in Tehran, despite the introduction of marital law. When the crowd refused to disperse troops opened fire killing 84 people. This event became known as Black Friday.

11 December: More than two million people went to Shahyad Square in Tehran. Their demands included the establishment of an Islamic Republic, the return of Khomeini and the overthrow of the Shah. The scale of the protest exposed the inability of the government to enforce law and order.

Halabja Massacre: Iraqi forces, under Saddam Hussein's command, conducted a devastating chemical weapons attack on the town of Halabja, resulting in the deaths of 5,000 and injuries to 10,000 Kurds.

Marsh Arab Attack: Saddam targeted the Marsh Arabs in southeast Iraq in 1991, aiming to construct a new waterway. This involved destroying the marshes, using chemical weapons, and displacing the Marsh Arabs, leading to a significant reduction in their population from 250,000 to around 30,000.

Cult of Personality: Saddam establishes a personality cult, with a permanent exhibition in Baghdad, extensive media coverage of his life, an autobiographical film titled "The Long Days," and over 200 songs praising him.

He also visits ordinary homes and villages in disguise and uses doubles for public appearances.

December: As he was in exile, from Damascus he left for Cairo where he spent the next three years

September: Saddam began plotting a coup against President Arif, because he aimed to acquire responsibility for security affairs.