How did Saddam Hussein take power in 1979?

Saddam Hussein took power in Iraq in 1979 after a gradual rise within the Ba'ath Party, where he had held various positions since the party's coup in 1968. He became the de facto leader of Iraq after President Ahmed Hassan al-Bakr resigned, largely due to health issues and internal party pressures. Hussein consolidated his control through a combination of political maneuvering, purges of rivals, and the establishment of a repressive security apparatus to eliminate dissent. By the time he officially assumed the presidency, he had already established himself as the dominant figure in Iraqi politics.