It’s probably a good bet that if asked, most people in the American public couldn’t identify the top leaders of the self-proclaimed Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. In 2003, when the United States military invaded Iraq, there was no question who the top targets were — perhaps because of a creative way the armed forces reminded people of its enemies.
A deck of playing cards featuring the most-wanted Iraqis was produced and began making the rounds during the invasion, keeping the names and faces of the targets burned into the public consciousness. Just last week, one of the men in the deck was reportedly killed in Iraq.
But whatever happened to the other 51 most-wanted people featured in the deck? Many of them are dead or still in custody. Below is a complete rundown of the people featured in the original deck and their current status.
The deck's four "Aces" have all been killed since 2003.
Spades
Ace: Saddam Hussein — Executed in 2006
King: Ali Hassan al-Majid — Executed in 2010
Queen: Muhammad Hamza Zubeidi — Died in custody in 2005
Jack: Ibrahim Ahmad abd al-Sattar Muhammad — Died in custody in 2010
Ten: Hamid Raja Shalah — Captured in 2003
Nine: Rukan Razuki abd al-Ghafar — Killed in 2003
Eight: Tariq Aziz — Surrendered in 2003, sentenced to death
Seven: Mahmud Dhiyab — Surrendered in 2003, released in 2012
Six: Amir Rashid Muhammad al-Ubaydi — Captured in 2003
Five: Watban Ibrahim Hasan — Captured in 2003, sentenced to death
Four: Muhammad Zimam abd al-Razzaq — Captured in 2004
Three: Sa’d Abdul-Majid al-Faisal — Captured in 2003
Two: Rashid Taan Kazim — At large
Clubs
Ace: Qusay Hussein — Killed in 2003
King: Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri — Killed in 2015
Queen: Kamal Mustafa Abdallah Sultan — Captured in 2003
Jack: Sayf al-Din Fulayyih Hasan Taha al-Rawi — At large
Ten: Latif Nusayyif Jasm Al-Dulaymi — Captured in 2003
Nine: Jamal Mustafa Abdallah Sultan — Captured in 2003
Eight: Walid Hamid Tawfiq — Surrendered in 2003
Seven: Ayad Futayyih Khalifa al-Rawi — Captured in 2003
Six: Hussam Muhammad Amin al-Yasin — Captured in 2003
Five: Barzan Ibrahim Hasan — Executed in 2007
Four: Samir abd al-Aziz — Captured in 2003
Three: Sayf al-Din al-Mashhadani — Captured in 2003
Two: Ugla Abid Sighar al-Kubaysi — Captured in 2003
Hearts
Ace: Uday Hussein — Killed in 2003
King: Hani abd al-Latif al-Tifah — At large
Queen: Barzan abd al-Ghafur Sulayman Majid al-Tikriti — Captured in 2003
Jack: Rafi abd al-Latif Tifah al-Tikriti — At large
Ten: Abd al-Tawab Mullah al-Huwaysh — Captured in 2003
Nine: Mizban Khadr Hadi — Captured in 2003
Eight: Sultan Hashim Ahmad al-Taie — Captured in 2003, sentenced to death
Seven: Zuhayr Talib abd al-Sattar — Surrendered in 2003
Six: Muhammad Mahdi al-Salih — Captured in 2003
Five: Huda Salih Mahdi Ammash — Captured in 2003, released in 2005
Four: Humam abd al-Khaliq abd al-Ghafur — Captured in 2003
Three: Fadil Mahmud Gharib — Captured in 2003, released in 2005
Two: Ghazi Hammud al-Ubaydi — Captured in 2003, released in 2005
Diamonds
Ace: Abed Hamoud Mahmud al-Tikriti — Executed in 2010
King: Aziz Saleh al-Numan — Captured in 2003
Queen: Muzahim Sa’b Hasan al-Tikriti — Captured in 2003
Jack: Tahir Jalil Habbush al-Tikriti — At large
Ten: Taha Yasin Ramadan al-Jizrawi — Executed in 2007
Nine: Taha Muhyi al-Din Maruf — Captured in 2003
Eight: Hikmat Mizban Ibrahim al-Azzawi — Captured in 2003
Seven: Amir Hamudi Hasan al-Sadi — Surrendered in 2003
Six: Sabawi Ibrahim Hasan — Died of cancer in 2013 while in custody
Five: Abd al-Baqi abd al-Karim al-Abdallah — At large
Four: Yahya Abdallah al-Ubaydi — Killed in 2003
Three: Muhsin Khadr al-Khafaji — Captured in 2004
Two: Adil Abdallah Mahdi — Captured in 2003
Final Tally
Dead: 13
In custody: 29
Released: 4
Never caught: 6
Clint Davis is a writer for the E.W. Scripps National Desk. Follow him on Twitter @MrClintDavis.
