An ornate decorative sword that was removed from former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein's home was returned to Iraq on Monday, according to the Washington Post.
The 43-inch gold-laden sword had been taken by U.S. military personnel from Hussein's personal office in Baghdad. While it is acceptable for soldiers to take weapons from the enemies as souvenirs the Federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement office declared the sword to not fit that description, according to the Washington Post.
"This ornate ceremonial sword cannot be considered a modern battlefield weapon and is therefore not eligible to be exported as a war trophy," ICE said in a statement.
James Denkins, executive associate director of Homeland Security Investigations, returned the sword in a private ceremony conducted at the Iraqi embassy in Washington. As Dinkins handed over the sword to Iraqi Ambassador Lukman Faily he said that the sword "represents part of a country's history that should have never been stolen or auctioned," according to the Daily Mail.
Upon receiving the sword Faily said that Monday was "one of these historic days that documents the deep relationship, cooperation and friendship" between the United States and Iraq, according to the Washington Post.
The sword was discovered by HSI agents when it was put up for auction by the Amoskeag Auction Company in October 2011. The consignor of the sword claimed to be attached to an active duty unit in Iraq serving as a military historian and that he had been given permission from the U.S. government to take the sword, according to the Daily Mail.
Since the end of the Iraq war the ICE has repatriated a number of artifacts that were illegally removed from the country including paintings, ancient artifacts, AK-47 rifles, statues, coins and ancient gold earrings, according to the Daily Mail.
The origin of the sword prior to it being awarded to Hussein is not known.
