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Al-Qaida in Iraq leader is dead, prime minister announces
TERROR MASTERMIND WAS KILLED IN AIR RAID NORTH OF BAGHDAD
BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the leader of Al-Qaida in Iraq who led a bloody campaign of suicide bombings, kidnappings and hostage beheadings in Iraq, has been killed in a U.S. air raid north of Baghdad, Iraq's prime minister said today.
Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, with the top U.S. general in Iraq, Gen. George Casey, said al-Zarqawi was killed Wednesday evening along with seven aides. Casey said Zarqawi's body was identified by fingerprints and facial recognition.
Zalmay Khalilzad, the U.S. ambassador to Iraq, says killing of Zarqawi marks a great success for Iraq and the global war on terror.
The Jordanian-born militant, who was believed to have personally beheaded at least two American hostages, became Iraq's most wanted militant, as notorious as Osama bin Laden, to whom he swore allegiance in 2004. The United States had put a $25 million bounty on Zarqawi, the same as bin Laden.
In the past year, he moved his campaign beyond Iraq's borders, claiming to have carried out a Nov. 9, 2005, triple suicide bombing against hotels in Amman, Jordan, that killed 60 people, as well as other attacks in Jordan and even a rocket attack from Lebanon into northern Israel.
U.S. 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 Maj. Gen. Hussein Kamal said Iraqi security forces caught Zarqawi near the insurgent stronghold of Al-Fallujah but then released him because they didn't realize 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.
U.S. forces believe they just missed capturing Zarqawi in a Feb. 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.
U.S. troops twice launched massive invasions of Al-Fallujah, the stronghold used by Al-Qaida 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.
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/local/14768265.htm
Another article here.
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Enjoy your virgins you piece of shit!
TERROR MASTERMIND WAS KILLED IN AIR RAID NORTH OF BAGHDAD
BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the leader of Al-Qaida in Iraq who led a bloody campaign of suicide bombings, kidnappings and hostage beheadings in Iraq, has been killed in a U.S. air raid north of Baghdad, Iraq's prime minister said today.
Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, with the top U.S. general in Iraq, Gen. George Casey, said al-Zarqawi was killed Wednesday evening along with seven aides. Casey said Zarqawi's body was identified by fingerprints and facial recognition.
Zalmay Khalilzad, the U.S. ambassador to Iraq, says killing of Zarqawi marks a great success for Iraq and the global war on terror.
The Jordanian-born militant, who was believed to have personally beheaded at least two American hostages, became Iraq's most wanted militant, as notorious as Osama bin Laden, to whom he swore allegiance in 2004. The United States had put a $25 million bounty on Zarqawi, the same as bin Laden.
In the past year, he moved his campaign beyond Iraq's borders, claiming to have carried out a Nov. 9, 2005, triple suicide bombing against hotels in Amman, Jordan, that killed 60 people, as well as other attacks in Jordan and even a rocket attack from Lebanon into northern Israel.
U.S. 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 Maj. Gen. Hussein Kamal said Iraqi security forces caught Zarqawi near the insurgent stronghold of Al-Fallujah but then released him because they didn't realize 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.
U.S. forces believe they just missed capturing Zarqawi in a Feb. 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.
U.S. troops twice launched massive invasions of Al-Fallujah, the stronghold used by Al-Qaida 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.
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/local/14768265.htm
Another article here.
-------------------
Enjoy your virgins you piece of shit!
