A former US Delta Force operative has revealed the first words former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein said after being captured.
Chris VanSant appeared alongside SAS veteran Billy Billingham – who is widely known for his time on SAS: Who Dares Wins – for the first episode of LADbible’s new series, The Meet, released for Remembrance Sunday.
You can watch the full episode here:
During the episode, the pair reflected on some of the toughest moments they faced while serving in the armed forces, as well as their terrifying near-death experiences while serving on the frontline.
VanSant also revealed what it was like to be involved in the mission to capture Saddam Hussein, the deposed president of Iraq, following the US-led invasion of the middle-eastern country in 2003.
Who was Saddam Hussein?
Hussein served as the president of Iraq from 1979 until 2003. Widely viewed as an authoritarian leader by many, Hussein’s time in power was characterised by persecution of Iraq’s Kurdish and Shia muslim groups.
Following the US-led invasion – under false accusations the country was producing weapons of mass destruction – the 69-year-old was deposed and his government toppled.
Former US Delta Force operative Chris VanSant and SAS veteran Billy Billingham (LADbible)
Aware he was a target of the US military, Hussein went into hiding and was later found underground in a farming village near the town of of Tikrit.
VanSant was part of the group involved in the capture mission – known as Operation Red Dawn – which involved tracking down Hussein’s former chef and personal courier in order to learn of the former president’s location.
The search led to a farmhouse in Ad-Dawr, where Hussein was captured. Although not personally present for his capture, VanSant clearly remembers being involved in the mission, which saw the special forces operatives initially being ‘one farm off’ due to false information given.
What Saddam Hussein said when captured
“What was he like when you got him? Was he defiant?” Billingham questioned.
“I wasn’t there, so this is secondhand, but he actually said, ‘I’m Saddam Hussein, the leader of Iraq, and I wanna negotiate’,” VanSant recalled.
Saddam Hussein served as the president of Iraq from 1979 until 2003 (Chip HIRES/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)
“I’m kind of surprised he lasted that long. I’m surprised he stayed in the country, and I’m surprised that it took us that long to find him.”
He added: “I was just happy that we got him. It was a success.”
Hussein would later be taken back Baghdad before standing trial in 2005 for crimes against humanity. He would subsequently be found guilty by the Iraqi interim government and executed on on 30 December 2006.
Featured Image Credit: Getty Images/LADbible
