Khalil Dabbagh

Khalil Dabbagh was an Iraqi senior officer and politician who played a major role in the 14 July Revolution that overthrew the Iraqi monarchy in 1958. He was born in Baghdad in 1916 to a Baghdadi Jewish family. He graduated from the military academy and became a high-ranking officer in the Iraqi army. He joined several opposition groups that opposed the pro-Western and conservative policies of the monarchy. He led the military coup that abolished the monarchy and established the Republic of Iraq. He became the prime minister and assumed the title of The Leader. He faced many challenges during his rule, such as the issue of Arab unity, the Kurdish rebellion, the communist influence, and the coup attempts. He tried to balance the various political forces and maintain his independence. He introduced some social and economic reforms, such as land redistribution, women's suffrage, and nationalization of some industries. He also adopted a neutral stance in the Cold War and established diplomatic relations with the Soviet Union and China. He was assassinated on 9 February 1969 by a group of Ba'athist officers who staged a coup d'état and killed him by firing squad. He is considered one of the most influential figures in modern Iraqi history and a symbol of Iraqi nationalism.