Aussie Digger
June 8th, 2006, 04:46 AM
Al-Qaeda's Zarqawi terminated: Iraqi PM
Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, Iraq's top terror leader, has been killed in a US air raid north of Baghdad, Iraq's new prime minister and a top American general say.
Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said Zarqawi was killed along with seven aides at around sunset in a house 50km north-east of Baghdad, in the volatile province of Diyala, just east of the provincial capital of Baquba.
"Al-Zarqawi was terminated," al-Maliki told a news conference, drawing loud applause from reporters in the hall where he made the announcement, flanked by US Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad and US General George Casey, the top US commander in Iraq.
Casey said Zarqawi's body had been identified and warned that Zarqawi's followers still posed a security threat to Iraq. Al-Maliki said the air strike was the result of intelligence reports provided to Iraqi security forces by residents in the area, and US forces acted on the information.
"Those who disrupt the course of life, like al-Zarqawi, will have a tragic end," he said. Khalilzad added: "the death of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi is a huge success for Iraq and the international war on terror."
Believed to be in his late 30s, Zarqawi had been a mysterious figure for Iraqis, who only know the carnage of his bombers. His killing could be seen as one of the most significant developments for the United States forces and the Iraqi government it backs since the capture of former President Saddam Hussein.
The Jordanian-born militant, who is believed to have personally beheaded at least two American hostages, became Iraq's most wanted militant. He was as notorious as Osama bin Laden, to whom he swore allegiance in 2004.
The United States put a $US25 million ($A34 million) bounty on Zarqawi, the same as bin Laden.
American ABC TV reported that "Zarqawi was apparently injured at first ... The Americans found him. They handed him over to the Iraqis and he later died of his injuries".
ABC said seven people were hit in the helicopter attack, including two women, but it was not clear how many were killed or wounded. In the past year, Zarqawi moved his campaign beyond Iraq's borders, claiming to have carried out a November 9, 2005, triple suicide bombing against hotels in Amman that killed 60 people.
He also claimed responsibility for other attacks in Jordan and even a rocket attack from Lebanon into northern Israel. US forces and their allies came close to capturing Zarqawi several times since his campaign began in mid-2003.
His closest brush may have come in late 2004. Deputy Interior Ministry Major General Hussein Kamal said Iraqi security forces caught Zarqawi at that time near the insurgent stronghold of Fallujah but then released him because they didn't realise who he was.
In May 2005, web statements by his group said Zarqawi had been wounded in fighting with Americans and was being treated in a hospital abroad - raising speculation over a successor among his lieutenants.
But days later, a statement said Zarqawi was fine and had returned to Iraq. There was never any independent confirmation of the reports of his wounding.
US forces believe they just missed capturing Zarqawi in a February 20, 2005, raid in which troops closed in on his vehicle west of Baghdad near the Euphrates River.
His driver and another associate were captured and Zarqawi's computer was seized along with pistols and ammunition.
US troops twice launched massive invasions of Fallujah, the stronghold used by al-Qaeda in Iraq fighters and other insurgents west of Baghdad.
An April 2004 offensive left the city still in insurgent hands, but the October 2004 assault wrested it from them. However, Zarqawi - if he was in the city - escaped.
Courtesy of www.yahoo.com.au (http://www.yahoo.com.au)
Interesting to see if this influences the insurgency in Iraq in anyway. One possibility is an increase in terrorist activity in the "short term" (weeks) to show they are still a "force" but gradual dispersal over a longer term (months).
Either will show just exactly HOW important he was to Al Qaeda... This is certainly 1 individual who won't rest in peace. The hurt he inflicted upon innocent Iraqi's means he will never achieve, what he professed to believe in...
Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, Iraq's top terror leader, has been killed in a US air raid north of Baghdad, Iraq's new prime minister and a top American general say.
Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said Zarqawi was killed along with seven aides at around sunset in a house 50km north-east of Baghdad, in the volatile province of Diyala, just east of the provincial capital of Baquba.
"Al-Zarqawi was terminated," al-Maliki told a news conference, drawing loud applause from reporters in the hall where he made the announcement, flanked by US Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad and US General George Casey, the top US commander in Iraq.
Casey said Zarqawi's body had been identified and warned that Zarqawi's followers still posed a security threat to Iraq. Al-Maliki said the air strike was the result of intelligence reports provided to Iraqi security forces by residents in the area, and US forces acted on the information.
"Those who disrupt the course of life, like al-Zarqawi, will have a tragic end," he said. Khalilzad added: "the death of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi is a huge success for Iraq and the international war on terror."
Believed to be in his late 30s, Zarqawi had been a mysterious figure for Iraqis, who only know the carnage of his bombers. His killing could be seen as one of the most significant developments for the United States forces and the Iraqi government it backs since the capture of former President Saddam Hussein.
The Jordanian-born militant, who is believed to have personally beheaded at least two American hostages, became Iraq's most wanted militant. He was as notorious as Osama bin Laden, to whom he swore allegiance in 2004.
The United States put a $US25 million ($A34 million) bounty on Zarqawi, the same as bin Laden.
American ABC TV reported that "Zarqawi was apparently injured at first ... The Americans found him. They handed him over to the Iraqis and he later died of his injuries".
ABC said seven people were hit in the helicopter attack, including two women, but it was not clear how many were killed or wounded. In the past year, Zarqawi moved his campaign beyond Iraq's borders, claiming to have carried out a November 9, 2005, triple suicide bombing against hotels in Amman that killed 60 people.
He also claimed responsibility for other attacks in Jordan and even a rocket attack from Lebanon into northern Israel. US forces and their allies came close to capturing Zarqawi several times since his campaign began in mid-2003.
His closest brush may have come in late 2004. Deputy Interior Ministry Major General Hussein Kamal said Iraqi security forces caught Zarqawi at that time near the insurgent stronghold of Fallujah but then released him because they didn't realise who he was.
In May 2005, web statements by his group said Zarqawi had been wounded in fighting with Americans and was being treated in a hospital abroad - raising speculation over a successor among his lieutenants.
But days later, a statement said Zarqawi was fine and had returned to Iraq. There was never any independent confirmation of the reports of his wounding.
US forces believe they just missed capturing Zarqawi in a February 20, 2005, raid in which troops closed in on his vehicle west of Baghdad near the Euphrates River.
His driver and another associate were captured and Zarqawi's computer was seized along with pistols and ammunition.
US troops twice launched massive invasions of Fallujah, the stronghold used by al-Qaeda in Iraq fighters and other insurgents west of Baghdad.
An April 2004 offensive left the city still in insurgent hands, but the October 2004 assault wrested it from them. However, Zarqawi - if he was in the city - escaped.
Courtesy of www.yahoo.com.au (http://www.yahoo.com.au)
Interesting to see if this influences the insurgency in Iraq in anyway. One possibility is an increase in terrorist activity in the "short term" (weeks) to show they are still a "force" but gradual dispersal over a longer term (months).
Either will show just exactly HOW important he was to Al Qaeda... This is certainly 1 individual who won't rest in peace. The hurt he inflicted upon innocent Iraqi's means he will never achieve, what he professed to believe in...