U.S. forces in Iraq on Saturday conducted raids aimed at dismantling fighters loyal to Saddam Hussein, the ousted leader of Iraq. A U.S. military spokesperson stated that during the past week, 90 raids were carried out as part of Operation Desert Scorpion, resulting in the arrest of 540 individuals. Additionally, Defense Department officials say that a senior former aide to Saddam Hussein has told interrogators that the ousted president and his two sons are still alive. A report citing U.S. officials states that Abd Hammoud Mahmoud, a former aide to Saddam Hussein, claims he saw Saddam and his two sons in early April while U.S. forces were besieging Baghdad.
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Continued U.S. Operations Against Saddam Loyalists - 2003-06-22
Feb 10, 2026
February 10, 2026
1 min read
📰 VOA Persian
📋 Key Takeaway
U.S. military operations in Iraq continue against fighters loyal to Saddam Hussein, with 90 raids conducted last week resulting in 540 arrests. A former aide to Saddam claims that both Saddam and his sons are still alive, raising questions about their whereabouts and the ongoing insurgency.
🔍 Quick Context Guide
💡 Bottom Line:
U.S. operations continue to target Saddam loyalists, with claims of Saddam's survival adding complexity to the situation.
👥 Key Players
U.S. Military
MENTIONED
Conducting operations in Iraq
"The U.S. military is leading efforts to stabilize Iraq post-Saddam Hussein's regime."
Saddam Hussein
MENTIONED
Ousted leader of Iraq
"Saddam's regime was overthrown by the U.S.-led coalition, and his loyalists are a source of ongoing conflict."
Abd Hammoud Mahmoud
MENTIONED
Former aide to Saddam Hussein
"His claims about Saddam's survival could impact the political and security situation in Iraq."
📰 What Happened
U.S. forces conducted 90 raids in Iraq targeting Saddam Hussein loyalists, arresting 540 individuals. A former aide to Saddam claims that Saddam and his sons are still alive.
- Operation Desert Scorpion resulted in 540 arrests.
- A former aide claims to have seen Saddam and his sons in April.
💡 Why It Matters
🇮🇷 For Iran: Iran shares a border with Iraq and has vested interests in the stability and political landscape of Iraq.
🌍 Regional: The presence of Saddam loyalists poses a threat to regional stability and the new Iraqi government.
🌐 International: The U.S. and its allies are concerned with stabilizing Iraq and preventing a resurgence of Saddam's influence.
📚 Background
The 2003 invasion of Iraq led to the toppling of Saddam Hussein's regime, but insurgency and instability have persisted.
2003 Iraq Invasion
Post-Saddam Insurgency
📡 Source:
INTERNATIONAL
📊 Confidence:
70%
The source is likely to provide a Western perspective, focusing on military and political developments.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
🌐
Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →
Translation confidence: 85%
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