Saddam Hussein: His Last Words, Hiding Spot, and the US Opposition

Few figures in modern history invite as many conflicting images as Saddam Hussein. He was both a disciplined party man and a ruthless autocrat, a self-styled defender of Arab nationalism and a man who spent his final months in a cramped underground hole. This article sorts through the competing stories about his last words, his survival tactics after Baghdad fell, and the disputed claims that tied him to al-Qaeda — separating what we know for certain from what remains murky.

Born: April 28, 1937 ·
Died: December 30, 2006 ·
Presidency: 1979–2003 ·
Cause of Death: Execution by hanging

Nine key facts about Saddam Hussein, one pattern: a life tightly woven with violence, ambition, and sudden reversals.

What did Saddam say before he died?

What were his exact last words?

Accounts of Saddam’s final moments vary depending on which witness or video recording is cited. CNN (credible news outlet) reported that he argued with guards and mocked Muqtada al-Sadr moments before the trapdoor opened. NBC News (established U.S. broadcaster) quoted him shouting “We are in Heaven, and our enemies are in Hell” and “Long live the people, long live jihad, and long live the nation.” A secondary source, GAMJI (an online commentary site), claimed he recited the shahada — but that account has weaker corroboration.

Who witnessed his execution?

The execution was carried out on December 30, 2006 in Baghdad, and witnesses included Iraqi government officials and a judge (CNN). An unofficial video that surfaced shortly afterward showed that some attendees taunted Saddam during his final moments (TIME magazine). The discrepancy in the reported words has fed enduring public fascination.

What was the context of his final statements?

Saddam had been convicted for the Dujail massacre and was led to the gallows early on a Saturday morning. CNN noted that he refused a hood and, according to some witnesses, uttered the takbir (“Allahu Akbar”) and referenced Palestine. The exact sequence remains contested.

The implication: the uncertainty around his final words mirrors the broader lack of consensus about his regime’s true nature.

What was Saddam Hussein famous for?

His role as president of Iraq

Seizing full power on July 16, 1979, Saddam quickly consolidated control through a mix of patronage and terror (CNN). He was known for public executions, torture, and a pervasive cult of personality.

His involvement in the Iran-Iraq War

From 1980 to 1988, Saddam fought a devastating war with Iran that cost hundreds of thousands of lives and ended in a stalemate (CNN). Both sides used chemical weapons, and international blame fell heavily on Iraq.

The invasion of Kuwait and Gulf War

On August 2, 1990, Iraq invaded Kuwait, triggering a U.S.-led coalition that expelled Iraqi forces in early 1991 (CNN). The war ended with Saddam still in power but under crippling sanctions.

Suppression of Shia and Kurdish uprisings

After the Gulf War, Saddam crushed rebellions in the Shia south and Kurdish north, using helicopter gunships and, in the case of the Kurds, chemical weapons (EBSCO). The al-Anfal campaign killed tens of thousands of Kurds.

Execution for crimes against humanity

Saddam was convicted by the Iraqi Special Tribunal for the 1982 Dujail massacre, in which 148 Shia villagers were killed after an assassination attempt on his motorcade (CNN). He was sentenced to death and hanged on December 30, 2006.

The pattern: each chapter of his fame deepened the cycle of violence that ultimately consumed him.

Why did the US dislike Saddam Hussein?

US support for Iraq during Iran-Iraq War

During the 1980s, the United States provided intelligence, dual-use technology, and diplomatic backing to Iraq in its war with Iran. CNN notes that the U.S. saw Saddam as a bulwark against Iranian revolutionary expansion — a pragmatic choice that later backfired.

Shift to opposition after invasion of Kuwait

Iraq’s August 1990 invasion of Kuwait directly threatened Saudi oil fields and global energy supplies. The U.S. led a United Nations coalition to push Iraqi forces out and enforce sanctions (CNN).

Weapons of mass destruction allegations

The central justification for the 2003 invasion was that Saddam possessed active WMD programs. CNN reported that no stockpiles were ever found, and the intelligence case collapsed, leading to widespread criticism of the war.

Human rights abuses

Saddam’s regime was notoriously brutal, but this was a secondary concern until the geopolitical calculus shifted. CNN acknowledges that the U.S. overlooked those abuses during the 1980s.

Alleged links to terrorism

The Bush administration argued that Saddam harbored ties to al-Qaeda. CNN notes that the 9/11 Commission found no collaborative relationship. The claim remains one of the most contested justifications for the war.

What this means: the U.S. opposition to Saddam was always conditional — shifting from alliance to enmity when regional interests changed.

Who is Saddam Hussein and what happened to him?

His early life and rise to power

Born April 28, 1937, near Tikrit, Saddam joined the Ba’ath Party in 1957 (CNN). He rose through the security apparatus and became president in 1979 after a purge of rivals.

His presidency and rule

For 24 years, Saddam maintained power through a vast intelligence network, oil wealth, and state terror. He led Iraq into the Iran-Iraq War and the invasion of Kuwait (CNN).

His downfall and capture

On March 20, 2003, a U.S.-led coalition invaded Iraq. Baghdad fell on April 9, and Saddam went into hiding. Defense Intelligence Agency reports that he was captured on December 13, 2003, in a “spider hole” on a farm near Ad-Dawr, outside Tikrit.

His trial and execution

His trial for the Dujail massacre began in October 2005. He was sentenced to death on November 5, 2006, and executed on December 30, 2006 (CNN).

How did Saddam Hussein eat in his hiding spot?

Where was his hiding spot?

Saddam hid at the bottom of a narrow, dark hole beneath a two-room mud shack on a sheep farm near Adwar, a small town close to Tikrit (CNN (detailed account of Operation Red Dawn)). The space was so cramped that he could barely stand upright.

How did he get food and supplies?

EBSCO (research database covering military history) says he relied on local supporters who brought him food, water, and cash. U.S. troops found bags of currency and weapons near the hideout. The support network was small but effective enough to keep him hidden for eight months.

How long was he in hiding?

From the fall of Baghdad on April 9, 2003, until his capture on December 13, 2003 — a total of about eight months (Defense Intelligence Agency).

What was his daily routine?

Few details about his daily life in hiding are known. CNN reported that he spent most of his time in the hole, emerging only at night. He reportedly had books and a small radio but no direct access to news beyond what his couriers brought.

The catch: the man who once commanded one of the Middle East’s largest armies ended his days dependent on shepherds and couriers for survival.

What did Osama bin Laden say about Saddam Hussein?

Did bin Laden support Saddam?

Bin Laden viewed Saddam as a secular dictator whose Ba’athist ideology contradicted the Islamist vision of al-Qaeda. CNN notes that bin Laden had publicly criticized Saddam on ideological grounds even before 9/11.

Did they cooperate?

The 9/11 Commission concluded that there was no collaborative operational relationship between Saddam’s regime and al-Qaeda (CNN). While there were some contacts in the 1990s, they never led to joint planning.

What was the nature of their statements?

After the 2003 invasion, bin Laden released audio statements praising the Iraqi resistance against U.S. forces. CNN reported that bin Laden viewed the Iraq war as a boon for his recruitment efforts, even though he despised Saddam’s secularism. The two men were tactical enemies of the U.S., but not allies.

Timeline of key events

Fourteen milestones chart Saddam’s trajectory from a village in Tikrit to the gallows in Baghdad.

What we know for sure — and what remains uncertain

Confirmed facts

• Saddam Hussein was born on April 28, 1937 (CNN)
• He was executed on December 30, 2006 (CNN)
• He was captured on December 13, 2003 (Defense Intelligence Agency)
• He had five children with Sajida Talfah (EBSCO)
• He led Iraq during the Iran-Iraq War and the Gulf War (CNN)
• He was convicted for the Dujail massacre (CNN)

What remains unclear

• Exact words he spoke moments before execution — conflicting witness accounts (CNN)
• Whether he possessed WMD after 1991 (no stockpiles found) (CNN)
• Nature and extent of any operational link between Saddam and al-Qaeda (CNN)
• Consistent description of his hiding place (“spider hole,” “bunker,” “crude shelter”) (Defense Intelligence Agency)

“We are in Heaven, and our enemies are in Hell” — reportedly shouted by Saddam Hussein during his execution according to NBC News.

— NBC News (established U.S. broadcaster)

In a 2004 audiotape, Osama bin Laden praised the Iraqi resistance, stating that the US invasion had turned Iraq into a “new front” for jihad.

— CNN (credible news outlet)

“The Iraqi regime continues to possess and conceal some of the most lethal weapons ever devised.” — President George W. Bush, March 2003, justifying the invasion.

— CNN (credible news outlet)

The pattern across these three accounts: each speaker — the condemned, the jihadist, the president — used words to frame a narrative long after the facts had moved on. For the United States, the decision to invade based on WMD claims that never materialized remains a costly lesson in the danger of certitude. For Iraq, the aftermath of Saddam’s removal — sectarian violence, a weakened state, and continued foreign intervention — suggests that toppling a dictator is easier than building a stable alternative.

The exact nature of Saddam Hussein’s final words remains disputed, yet Saddam Husseins final words offers a clear synthesis of the available evidence.

Frequently asked questions