Attempted assassination of Abdul-Karim Qasim
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 Prime Minister Abdul Karim Qasim is lying in the hospital after the failure of the assassination attempt, From right to left: Farid Mahmoud, director of military movements, Hafez Alwan, the prime minister's aide, and the sons of Fadel Abbas Al-Mahdawi, president of the People's Court, standing on the left with Ismail Al-Arif, minister of education | |
| Date | October 7, 1959 |
|---|---|
| Location | Al-Rashid Street, Baghdad, Iraq[1] |
| Motive | Regime change |
| Target | Abdul-Karim Qasim |
| Perpetrator |  Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party |
| Deaths | 2[1] |
| Non-fatal injuries | 1 (including Qasim) |
| Part of a series on |
| Ba'athism |
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On October 7, 1959, Iraq’s Prime Minister Abdul-Karim Qasim, was ambushed in an attempted assassination.[2] The ambush was organized by members of the Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party, including Saddam Hussein, as part of broader efforts to remove Qasim due to his nationalist policies, which had alienated pan-Arabist movements and various opposition factions. The assassination attempt took place on Al-Rashid Street in Baghdad and resulted in Qasim sustaining non-fatal injuries. Although the plot failed, it had far-reaching consequences for Iraq’s political landscape.
Abdul-Karim Qasim emerged as a central figure in Iraqi politics following the 14 July Revolution in 1958, which overthrew the Hashemite monarchy and established a republic. As Prime Minister, Qasim pursued a nationalist agenda, emphasizing Iraq's sovereignty and adopting a policy of "Iraq First" (wataniyah). This approach led to strained relations with pan-Arab movements, particularly the United Arab Republic (UAR) led by Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser. Qasim's alliance with the Iraqi Communist Party further alienated pan-Arab factions, including the Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party, which advocated for Arab unity.
Assassination attempt
On October 7, 1959, Qasim's motorcade was ambushed on Al-Rashid Street in Baghdad by a group of Ba'athist conspirators, including a young Saddam Hussein.[3] The plan involved coordinated gunfire intended to kill Qasim and his entourage. However, the operation did not proceed as intended; reports suggest that Saddam Hussein began shooting prematurely, causing confusion among the assailants. Qasim's chauffeur was killed, and Qasim sustained injuries to his arm and shoulder but survived the attack.[1]