Answer
Ali Hassan al-Majid was first cousin to Saddam Hussein. His father, Khairallah Talfah, was the brother of Hussein's mother, Sajida Talfah. The two men grew up together in the town of Tikrit, and they remained close friends and allies throughout their lives. Al-Majid served as a senior military commander and government official under Hussein, and he was one of the most powerful and feared figures in Iraq.