1963 Military coup in Iraq
55 years ago, on February 8, 1963, the Iraqi army overthrew the government of General Abdel-Kerim Qasem. The Ba'ath Party came to power under the leadership of General Ahmed Hassan al-Bakr, who became prime minister, and Colonel Abdel-Salam Aref, who became president. The coup was accompanied by two days of fierce fighting with the troops that remained loyal to Kasem and the communists who supported him.