Adnan Khayr Allah

Adnan Khairallah
عدنان خير الله طلفاح
Minister of Defence
In office
15 October 1977 – 4 May 1989
PresidentSaddam Hussein
Preceded byAhmed Hassan al-Bakr
Succeeded byAbdul Jabbar Khalil Shanshal
Member of the Revolutionary Command Council
In office
September 1979 – 4 May 1989
Member of the Regional Command of the Iraqi Regional Branch
In office
January 1974 – 4 May 1989
Personal details
Bornc. 1940[1]
Tikrit, Kingdom of Iraq
Died4 May 1989(1989-05-04) (aged 49)
Mosul, Ba'athist Iraq
Political partyArab Socialist Ba'ath Party
SpouseHaifa Ahmed
Relations
Parent(s)Khairallah Talfah
Lilo Wahib
Alma materUniversity of Baghdad
Military service
AllegianceIraq Iraq
Branch/serviceIraqi Army
(Army Aviation)
Years of service1959–1989
Rank Colonel General
Battles/warsIran–Iraq War

Adnan Khairallah (Arabic: عدنان خير الله طلفاح, romanizedʿAdnān Khayr Allāḥ; 1940 – 4 May 1989) was an Iraqi military officer and Saddam Hussein's brother-in-law (Sajida Talfah's brother and Khairallah Talfah's son) and cousin. He held several titles and was a member of the Iraqi Revolutionary Command Council. He also served as the Defence Minister of Iraq from 1979 until his death a decade later, being appointed days after Saddam Hussein succeeded to the Presidency.[2]

He died in 1989 in a helicopter crash that was officially labeled an accident. The circumstances surrounding his death, including his disputes with Saddam and rumors of a potential coup, have led some to believe Adnan was assassinated under orders from Saddam.[2]

  1. ^ Al-Shammari, Maysar (1 June 2003). "زوجة وطبان التكريتي شقيقة "زوجة الرئيس" تتحدث لـ"الحياة" عن شجون العائلة . إلهام خيرالله طلفاح : حسين كامل سحر ساجدة واستولى على قلب صدام وأسئلة عن مصرع شقيقي عدنان أثارها سلو..." [Watban's wife Al-Tikriti, sister of "the president's wife," talks to Al-Hayat about the family's grievances. Ilham Khairallah Talfah: Hussein Kamel Sahar Sajida and seized Saddam’s heart, and questions about the death of my brother Adnan were raised by Uday’s behavior with his family]. Al-Hayat. Archived from the original on 28 March 2019.
  2. ^ a b "Gen. Adnan Khairallah, 50, Dies; Iraqi Defense Chief and Adviser". The New York Times. 7 May 1989.