Following a lengthy period as a fugitive, Saddam Hussein’s run ended in December 2003 when American troops located him near Tikrit, Iraq.

The ousted leader was found concealed in a small, underground "spider hole" on the grounds of a rural farmhouse. Despite the intensity of the search, the former dictator was apprehended by special operations forces without a fight. His capture concluded a massive international pursuit and served as a defining turning point in the Iraq War.