US troops raiding Iraqi airports in 2003 found advanced Russian planes buried in desert sands • Why did the tyrant decide to take the odd step?

• Sukhoi 25 // Photo: Ukrainian Air Force, Wikipedia

The US forces that entered Iraq in 2003, during the Second Gulf War, met with many, strange and interesting dreams. They saw toilets and gold guns, a Quran written in blood and even a novel written by Saddam Hussein. But one of the most surprising things were the MiG 25 and Sukhoi 25 aircraft in very good condition, which were buried near the Al-Kdom airport and the Assad airport. The planes were in excellent operational condition, and well maintained, with only their wings removed, and the fighters tried to understand why they had to be buried.

After questioning, the reason for the Iraqi tyrant's decision became clear. In the Iran-Iraq War, which took place in the 1980s, Iraqis fought against F-14s and were defeated severely, due to the advanced capabilities of Iranian and advanced aircraft.

Saddam Hussein // Photo: Getty Imijis

Therefore, Saddam Hussein had no illusion as to the outcome of a battle between his planes and the advanced American planes. He vividly remembered the results of the First Gulf War, and the fact that Iraqi pilots defected to Iran not to drop them during battles with the United States.

But Hussein was optimistic. He ordered his soldiers to bury the planes in the sands to guard them, even though his pilots were ready to fight. The tyrant's hope was that he would survive the Second Gulf War as well, and then return to his operations. That didn't happen, and so American fighters found the advanced planes buried in the sands.