Liberation Day in Iraqi Kurdistan Date in the current year: April 9, 2024

Saddam Hussein was President of Iraq and Chairman of the Revolutionary Command Council of Iraq from 1979 to 2003, although he had began his rise to power much earlier, having played a key role in the 1968 coup.

Following the 1979 Islamic Revolution in Iran, Iranian Kurds began a rebellion against the new government and received support from Saddam Hussein who wanted to take advantage of Iran’s post-revolutionary chaos. In response, Tehran began to help Iraqi Kurds who sought autonomy, providing them with money and weapons.

In 1984, Kurds in Northern Iraq rebelled against Saddam Hussein. The most violent phase of conflict between the Kurds and Hussein’s regime was the Anfal genocide committed during the Al-Anfal campaign. The genocide killed between 50,000 and 183,000 Kurds and wiped out about 90% of Kurdish villages.

No wonder that Iraqi Kurds rejoiced over the fall of Saddam Hussein’s regime. On April 9, 2003, the U.S.-led forces entered Baghdad, and Hussein’s rule was essentially over. The anniversary of this event is celebrated in Iraqi Kurdistan as an official holiday.