Saddam Hussein’s reign was marked by wars, chemical attacks, and severe punishments.

After years of dictatorship, everything changed when the United States invaded Iraq in 2003.

 

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The fall of Baghdad on April 9, 2003, led to Saddam Hussein’s disappearance.

He evaded capture by going into hiding in central Iraq.

For nearly eight months, he remained on the run, moving between safe houses.

Saddam primarily stayed near Tikrit, his hometown in Salah al-Din province.

The U.S. military, alongside CIA agents and Iraqi informants, worked tirelessly to locate him.

They captured and interrogated several individuals close to him, inching closer to his whereabouts.

U.S. forces believed Saddam was hiding near the Tigris River, focusing their search around ad-Dawr, Samarra, and Tikrit.

On the night of December 13, 2003, a significant operation named Operation Red Dawn was launched.

This operation was named after a 1984 American war movie.

Two specific sites were targeted during the operation, codenamed “Wolverine 1” and “Wolverine 2.”

These locations were farmhouses near ad-Dawr, about 15 kilometers south of Tikrit.

Approximately 600 soldiers from the 4th Infantry Division and Task Force 121 participated in the raid.

 

 

The troops utilized helicopters, armored vehicles, and intelligence from local sources.

One of Saddam’s former bodyguards eventually revealed his location.

When the troops searched a small walled compound, they discovered a concealed hole in the ground.

This hole, hidden under bricks and dirt, was about 6 to 8 feet deep.

It was only large enough for one person to lie down inside, earning it the nickname “spider hole.”

Inside this hole, they found Saddam Hussein, looking thin and weak.

His hair was disheveled, and his beard had grown long and gray.

He possessed a flashlight, a pistol, and a sack containing $750,000 in cash.

Nearby lay two AK-47 rifles, which he chose not to use.

Saddam made no attempt to fight or flee.

He was swiftly pulled out, handcuffed, and taken into custody.

Immediately after his capture, Saddam was transported to Camp Cropper, a U.S. military prison near Baghdad International Airport.

This high-security facility was designated for important prisoners.

Saddam was assigned the code name “High Value Detainee #1.”

He was housed in a small cell with only the essentials: a metal bed, a thin mattress, a sink, and a toilet.

The U.S. military kept the light on 24 hours a day to monitor him continuously.

Cameras and guards watched him closely, and he was prohibited from speaking to other prisoners.

Saddam spent most of his time in solitude.

 

 

He was permitted one hour of outdoor exercise daily, which he used to get fresh air and stay fit.

He could also have a few Arabic books, including the Quran, which he read frequently.

Much of his time was spent writing letters, some of which were sent to his daughters living in Jordan.

American officials and intelligence officers questioned him multiple times.

One notable interrogator, FBI agent George Piro, spent months interviewing Saddam in 2004.

Piro later described Saddam as calm and intelligent, often attempting to steer the conversation.

Saddam showed neither guilt nor fear, believing history would remember him as a great leader.

He continued to refer to himself as the president of Iraq, refusing to acknowledge any wrongdoing.

During this period, Iraq was undergoing significant changes.

The old Ba’ath Party had collapsed, and a new government was forming with U.S. assistance.

On June 28, 2004, the U.S. officially transferred legal custody of Saddam to the Iraqi Interim Government.

This transition meant that Iraq’s new legal system was now responsible for Saddam’s case.

However, he remained under U.S. military control for his safety.

The Americans feared he might be attacked by those who despised him or by supporters seeking to help him escape.

After nearly two years in prison, Saddam finally faced trial.

The Iraqi Special Tribunal was established to address crimes committed by Saddam and his top officials.

The trial officially began on October 19, 2005, inside the heavily guarded Green Zone in Baghdad.

The primary charge in this first trial pertained to the events in Dujail in 1982.

Dujail, a small Shia Muslim town about 60 kilometers north of Baghdad, became the center of a brutal response from Saddam.

After an assassination attempt during his visit, he ordered severe retaliation.

Security forces arrested hundreds of individuals, many of whom were innocent civilians.

The court charged Saddam with crimes against humanity for this massacre.

This charge indicated he had orchestrated mass killings and torture against civilians.

 

 

Alongside him, seven other officials were on trial, including his half-brother and local Ba’ath Party leaders.

The trial represented a historic moment for Iraq, as it was the first time a ruler faced accountability for his actions.

It was televised, capturing the attention of millions of Iraqis.

Saddam, however, did not behave like a typical defendant.

He frequently interrupted judges, shouted in court, and delivered fiery speeches.

He refused to recognize the court’s legitimacy, calling the judges “traitors.”

Despite his circumstances, he maintained a sense of confidence, asserting his role as Iraq’s president.

The judges faced significant challenges, including threats and pressure, leading to resignations.

Witnesses from Dujail testified about the atrocities they endured, recounting stories of torture and loss.

After more than a year of proceedings, the verdict was announced on November 5, 2006.

Saddam was found guilty of ordering the Dujail killings and sentenced to death by hanging.

He displayed little fear during the announcement, raising his fist defiantly.

His legal team filed an appeal, hoping to overturn the sentence.

However, the Iraqi Appeals Court confirmed the death sentence on December 26, 2006.

The court ruled that Saddam was guilty of crimes against humanity, and the execution would proceed without delay.

The Iraqi government, eager to execute Saddam before the upcoming Eid al-Adha holiday, accelerated the process.

They believed that executing him would provide closure to victims of his regime.

Plans for the execution were quickly organized, with security heightened at key locations.

Saddam was informed of his impending execution on the night of December 29.

At 69 years old, after ruling Iraq for nearly 24 years, his life was about to end.

That night, he remained calm but quiet, praying and writing letters to his family.

He requested a simple Islamic burial next to his sons, Uday and Qusay, who had been killed in 2003.

On the morning of December 30, 2006, Saddam was officially transferred from U.S. custody to the Iraqi government.

He was taken to the Iraqi Military Intelligence headquarters, which had been designated as the execution site.

Inside, everything was prepared for the hanging, with judges, officials, and witnesses present.

Saddam, dressed in a white shirt and dark overcoat, refused a hood to cover his face.

At around 5:50 a.m., he walked toward the gallows, climbing the 13 steps to the platform.

As the noose was placed around his neck, some attendees shouted angrily, expressing their desire for vengeance.

Saddam urged them to maintain composure, emphasizing that this was a moment of justice, not revenge.

He began to recite a prayer but was interrupted when the trapdoor opened beneath him.

At precisely 6:00 a.m. local time, Saddam Hussein was hanged.

His body fell through the trapdoor, and the rope tightened around his neck.

A doctor later confirmed his death within seconds.

 

 

Saddam’s body was left hanging for several minutes, a standard procedure to ensure death.

Afterward, his body was flown to al-Awja for burial in a simple tomb inside a mosque he had built.

On December 31, family members and tribal leaders attended the burial, which the Iraqi government permitted to prevent further conflict.

Hours after the hanging, a mobile phone video surfaced online, showing people mocking Saddam in his final moments.

Many Iraqis, even those who despised him, felt the execution was more about revenge than justice.

The United Nations and human rights organizations criticized the execution’s handling, deeming it unprofessional.

Public opinion was divided; some believed Saddam deserved his fate, while others saw the trial as rushed and unfair.

The aftermath of Saddam’s execution did not bring peace to Iraq.

Instead, the country became increasingly divided along sectarian lines.

With Saddam gone, Shia groups gained power, leading to escalating violence between Sunnis and Shias.

Terrorist organizations exploited the chaos, culminating in the rise of ISIS.

While Saddam Hussein was executed, Iraq continued to suffer from violence, weak leadership, and deep divisions.

For some, his execution was justice served; for others, it marked the beginning of even greater suffering.