According to the U.S. government, the appointment of Dr Rihab Taha in 1985, to head a small research team at al-Muthanna, helped to develop the Iraqi biological weapons programme. News sources state that she headed this programme until 1995.

During the 2003 war on Iraq there were broadcasts showing her sitting next to Saddam Hussein.

On May 12, 2003, the U.S. government announced that she had surrendered to coalition forces.

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