The operation originally intended to apprehend them but turned into a four-hour gun battle outside a fortified safehouse which ended with the death of the brothers, Qusay's son Mustafa, and a bodyguard, Abdul Samad al-Hadushi.

In March 2003, a military coalition led by the United States invaded Iraq and overthrew the country's Ba'athist regime under Saddam Hussein.

At 11:45 AM, several Kiowa OH-58D helicopters arrived and began firing at the safehouse, destroying a large portion of the building with machine gun rounds and rockets.

Unable to neutralize the defenders, the task force initially considered using AH-64 Apache attack helicopters to destroy the safehouse but ruled it out due to concerns over potential civilian casualties.

Both men had significantly changed their appearance by growing their beards long to avoid detection; Uday had completely shaved his head.

[1] Photos of the brothers' corpses were later published by the U.S. Department of Defense and shown on TV and in newspapers, generating considerable controversy.

[7] US officials announced that the combined $30 million reward for Qusay and Uday Hussein would be paid to the informant who tipped off Coalition authorities.

Saddam reacted to news in conflicting manner both mourning and honoring the deaths: We thank God for honouring us with their martyrdom for His sake.

Beloved Iraqis, your sons and brothers — Uday, Qusay and Qusay’s son Mustafa — practised an act of faith in the arena of jihad in Mosul, after a valiant battle with the enemy lasting a full six hours, The armies of aggression equipped with all kinds of weapons of land forces could not reach them until aircraft were used (to bomb) the house in which they were present … Once more I tell our faithful people and our glorious (Arab) nation that (we) sacrifice lives and money for the sake of God, Iraq and our nation … If Saddam Hussein had 100 sons other than Uday and Qusay, Saddam Hussein would have offered them on the same path (of martyrdom).