It was one of the largest manhunts in history. Having been ousted from power following the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq, Saddam Hussein, the country’s once all-powerful and ruthless leader, went into hiding as an estimated 150,000 troops scoured the land for the individual known as “High-Value Target Number One.”
Incredibly, Hussein evaded capture for almost eight months, famously emerging disheveled and bearded from a tiny purpose-built hole under a flowerbed near the town of Tikrit. Three years later, he was hanged.
Source: ‘Hiding Saddam Hussein’ Director on Keeping Doc Secret for 14 Years – The Hollywood Reporter