The overthrow of Prime Minister Abd al-Karim Qasim by the Ba'ath Party on February 8, 1963, was a crucial turning point in Iraq's history. Qasim had come to power in 1958 through a coup that overthrew the monarchy and sought to modernize Iraq with a series of reforms. However, his rule faced increasing discontent due to economic challenges and political repression. The Ba'ath Party, established in the 1940s, capitalized on the socio-political turmoil, portraying itself as a unifying force for Arab nationalism and socialism. By early 1963, the Ba'ath Party, with military elements, had formulated a plan to seize power, leading to clashes with Qasim’s loyalists.On that fateful day, coordinated military operations, predominantly by officers sympathetic to the Ba'ath Party, aimed to capture key government installations in Baghdad. The coup unfolded relatively quickly, resulting in the prompt arrest of Qasim and several of his associates. The Ba'ath Party declared its leadership of the state, with Ahmed Hassan al-Bakr assuming the presidency. In the aftermath, a wave of violence was unleashed against perceived enemies, with many members of Qasim's regime executed or imprisoned, ushering in a period of autocratic rule characterized by harsh repression and political purges. This coup also set the stage for future conflicts within Iraq and contributed to rising tensions in the region, particularly as Iraq began to play a more prominent role in Arab politics and align itself more closely with nationalist and socialist movements across the Middle East.