Anatomy of the Raid that Killed Saddam's Sons

July 23, 2003 -- The top U.S. ground commander in Iraq today described in detail the raid that killed Saddam Hussein's sons Tuesday, saying the four-hour gun battle was conducted at a "fairly measured pace" as forces surrounded the Mosul home where Odai and Qusai Hussein and two others were barricaded.

Below is a timeline of the assault as outlined by Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez, commander of ground forces in Iraq, from the moment the military received a tip about the location of the sons to the recovery of their bodies. All times are in local Mosul, Iraq time, which is currently Greenwich Mean Time plus three hours.

Monday, July 21, 2003

Evening: An Iraqi citizen walks into a U.S. military station in Mosul, Iraq, and offers information that Odai and Qusai Hussein might be located at a three-story residence in the northeastern part of the city.

NightU.S. military officials plan an assault on the house to begin by 10 a.m. the next day.

To lead the assault, military officials assign the 101st Airborne Division, an infantry company and OH-58D Kiowa attack helicopters with 2.75-inch rockets and .50-caliber machine guns. Humvees mounted with TOW antitank missiles, MK-19 grenade launchers and .50-caliber machine guns were also employed.

AH-64 Apache helicopters are prepared, as are Air Force A-10 attack planes (neither will be used).

Tuesday, July 22, 2003

10 a.m.

The 101st Airborne Division positions antitank platoons and weapon squads around the home. The forces work with local Iraqi police to establish a cordon, or line of troops, to isolate the area.

In what is called a cordon-and-knock operation, troops surround the home and an interpreter using a bullhorn knocks on the door and urges targets in the house to surrender.

10:10 a.m.

U.S. soldiers attempt to enter the house and are immediately fired upon.

Three coalition soldiers are wounded on the stairs of the house. One soldier is wounded outside the house.

U.S. forces withdraw and request additional support, including Quick Reaction Forces (forces poised to respond on very short notice) and heavy weaponry.

10:15 a.m.

Medevac is called in to take care of wounded soldiers.

Military leaders decide to continue firing at the house from the outside before attempting to enter again.

"We knew that we had the area surrounded, and there was no rush — or no reason for us to rush to failure," Sanchez explained at today's press conference.

Sporadic gunfire from small arms continues from inside the house by people appearing to use AK-47s.

10:45 a.m.

U.S. soldiers fire MK-19 grenade launchers and two anti-tank rockets at the house.

Soldiers in armed Humvees continue to spray the house with .50-caliber machine gun fire.

11:22 a.m.

The 2nd Brigade Combat Team of the 101st Airborne Division begins moving additional forces, including a ground quick reaction force that consists of one antitank platoon.

11:45 a.m.

Soldiers in Kiowa helicopters fire rockets at the house and 350 rounds from .50-caliber machine guns.

11:50 a.m.

More troops are added to secure the site, including an antitank platoon, and a PSYOPS (psychological operations) team on the ground.

11:55 a.m.

Kiowa helicopters finish pummeling the house with rockets and machine gunfire.

12 noon

U.S. soldiers again attempt to enter the home. They secure the first floor of the house and are fired on again from the home's second floor. Soldiers receive fire on the stairs to the house's second floor.

The U.S. soldiers withdraw.

12:30 p.m.

At this point, U.S. forces realize there is a barricaded site at the top of the house's stairs and that the subjects are fairly well barricaded on that second floor. Military leaders decide to continue firing at the house from the outside.

1 p.m.

Soldiers fire Humvee-mounted .50-caliber machine guns and MK-19 grenade launchers at the house. They fire 10 TOW anti-tank, guided missiles into the house.

Military leaders consider attacking the house with Apache helicopters and A-10 jet aircraft, but decide against it given the high risk of collateral damage to the highly populated neighborhood surrounding the house.

1:21 p.m.

Soldiers enter the house for the third time. They don't encounter gunfire on the stairs but are fired upon by an Iraqi on the second floor.

Soldiers kill the Iraqi in the house's bedroom. They find the bodies of three other individuals on the second floor, including Odai and Qusai Hussein.

2:02 p.m.

By this time soldiers have cleared and secured the entire house. They recover the four bodies of Iraqis killed in the assault and remove them for identification.

3 p.m.

The 101st Airborne begins cleaning up and repairing the area where the house is located.