Adnan Khayr Allah

Colonel general
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 Iraqi Republic (1959–1968)
Iraq Baathist Iraq (1968–1989)
Branch/service Iraqi Ground Forces
(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.