Saddam's Sons Likely Killed in Firefight, U.S. Officials Say
Tuesday, July 22, 2003
MOSUL, Iraq — Saddam Hussein's sons Udai and Qusai (search) were likely killed Tuesday when U.S. soldiers stormed a house in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul, U.S. military sources told Fox News.
Officials earlier confirmed that four key allies of the former Iraqi dictator had been killed inside the house, a large villa that belonged to one of Saddam's cousins.
The house was burned to the ground after a loud, four-hour gunbattle between the people inside and soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division.
Residents of the city, 280 miles north of Baghdad, said the American soldiers were searching for Saddam's sons, who have been reported in the area.
"Individuals of very high interest to the coalition forces were hiding out in the building," Lt. Col. William Bishop of the 101st Airborne Division (search) told Reuters.
"This morning we went to the building and surrounded it."
According to the Reuters report, U.S. soldiers were fired at by people inside the house as they approached, and the Americans called in helicopters and an unmanned vehicle for assistance before storming the house.
The United States has offered a $25 million reward for information leading to Saddam's capture, and $15 million for his sons.
Fox News military analyst Col. Bill Cowan said he hoped Saddam's sons had been captured and not killed.
"I think in this case, it'd be great to have them alive," he said.
"I think for the [Iraqi] population to see these two guys shackled, incarcerated and really given some harsh treatment … will have a most profound and long-term psychological advantage."
Cowan added that Saddam's sons might provide good intelligence on their father's whereabouts.
Fox News' Greg Palkot and Bret Baier contributed to this report. |
