Times Online June 08, 2006
Abu Musab al-Zarqawi in a video posted on the internet
Al-Zarqawi killed, says Iraqi PM
By Philippe Naughton and agencies in Baghdad
Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the al-Qaeda terror leader who led the brutal insurgency against US forces in Iraq, has been killed in an American air raid north of Baghdad.
The death of Iraq's most wanted man was announced this morning by Nouri al-Maliki, the Iraqi Prime Minister, who said that the Jordanian militant was killed last night along with seven of his aides in a joint operation with Iraqi forces.
"Today Zarqawi has been terminated," Mr al-Maliki told a televised press conference, shaking his fist in jubilation.
"This is a message to those who chose the path of violence to change their direction before it is too late. I thank our forces, our police and the multinational forces for what they are doing in pursuing the terrorists."
Al-Zarqawi, who is believed to have personally beheaded several Western hostages including Ken Bigley, a Liverpool engineer, swore allegiance to Osama bin Laden in 2004 and became leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq. He and his group have claimed responsibility for many of the worst atrocities of the three-year insurgency.
General George Casey, the top US general in Iraq, said that al-Zarqawi was killed in an air raid at around 6.15pm on an isolated safe house near Baquba, an insurgent hotspot 40 miles north of Baghdad, after a tip-off that he was to meet his senior al-Qaeda colleagues.
"Tips and intelligence from Iraqi senior leaders from his network led forces to al-Zarqawi and some of his associates, who were conducting a meeting approximately eight km north of Baquba, when the air strike was launched," General Casey said.
"Iraqi police were first on the scene after the air strike, and elements of Multinational Division North, arrived shortly thereafter. Coalition forces were able to identify al-Zarqawi by fingerprint verification, facial recognition and known scars."
General Casey said that al-Zarqawi and his terror organisation had conducted terrorist activities against the Iraqi people for years, in attempts to undermine the Iraqi national government and coalition efforts to rebuild and stabilise Iraq.
He warned: "Although the designated leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq is now dead, the terrorist organisation still poses a threat as its members will continue to try to terrorise the Iraqi people and destabilise their government as it moves toward stability and prosperity.
"Iraqi forces, supported by the coalition, will continue to hunt terrorists that threaten the Iraqi people until terrorism is eradicated in Iraq."
It is not yet clear whether the US will have to pay out on the $25 million bounty that was on al-Zarqawi's head.
In the past year, al-Zarqawi had moved his campaign beyond Iraq’s borders, claiming to have ordered a triple suicide bombing in November 2005 that killed 60 people in hotels in Amman, the Jordanian capital, as well as other attacks in Jordan and even a rocket attack from Lebanon into northern Israel.
US forces and their allies came close to capturing al-Zarqawi several times since his campaign began in mid-2003. His closest brush may have come in late 2004, when Major General Hussein Kamal, the deputy interior minister, said that Iraqi security forces caught al-Zarqawi near the insurgent stronghold of Fallujah - but then released him because they didn’t realise who he was.
In May 2005, statements posted on the internet by his group said that al-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, another statement said al-Zarqawi was fine and had returned to Iraq.
US forces believe they just missed capturing al-Zarqawi in a February 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 al-Zarqawi’s computer was seized along with pistols and ammunition.
Zalmay Khalilzad, the US ambassador to Iraq, said that al-Zarqawi was the "godfather of sectarian killings and terror in Iraq" and described his death as a "good omen".
thetimesonline.co.uk
Abu Musab al-Zarqawi in a video posted on the internet
Al-Zarqawi killed, says Iraqi PM
By Philippe Naughton and agencies in Baghdad
Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the al-Qaeda terror leader who led the brutal insurgency against US forces in Iraq, has been killed in an American air raid north of Baghdad.
The death of Iraq's most wanted man was announced this morning by Nouri al-Maliki, the Iraqi Prime Minister, who said that the Jordanian militant was killed last night along with seven of his aides in a joint operation with Iraqi forces.
"Today Zarqawi has been terminated," Mr al-Maliki told a televised press conference, shaking his fist in jubilation.
"This is a message to those who chose the path of violence to change their direction before it is too late. I thank our forces, our police and the multinational forces for what they are doing in pursuing the terrorists."
Al-Zarqawi, who is believed to have personally beheaded several Western hostages including Ken Bigley, a Liverpool engineer, swore allegiance to Osama bin Laden in 2004 and became leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq. He and his group have claimed responsibility for many of the worst atrocities of the three-year insurgency.
General George Casey, the top US general in Iraq, said that al-Zarqawi was killed in an air raid at around 6.15pm on an isolated safe house near Baquba, an insurgent hotspot 40 miles north of Baghdad, after a tip-off that he was to meet his senior al-Qaeda colleagues.
"Tips and intelligence from Iraqi senior leaders from his network led forces to al-Zarqawi and some of his associates, who were conducting a meeting approximately eight km north of Baquba, when the air strike was launched," General Casey said.
"Iraqi police were first on the scene after the air strike, and elements of Multinational Division North, arrived shortly thereafter. Coalition forces were able to identify al-Zarqawi by fingerprint verification, facial recognition and known scars."
General Casey said that al-Zarqawi and his terror organisation had conducted terrorist activities against the Iraqi people for years, in attempts to undermine the Iraqi national government and coalition efforts to rebuild and stabilise Iraq.
He warned: "Although the designated leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq is now dead, the terrorist organisation still poses a threat as its members will continue to try to terrorise the Iraqi people and destabilise their government as it moves toward stability and prosperity.
"Iraqi forces, supported by the coalition, will continue to hunt terrorists that threaten the Iraqi people until terrorism is eradicated in Iraq."
It is not yet clear whether the US will have to pay out on the $25 million bounty that was on al-Zarqawi's head.
In the past year, al-Zarqawi had moved his campaign beyond Iraq’s borders, claiming to have ordered a triple suicide bombing in November 2005 that killed 60 people in hotels in Amman, the Jordanian capital, as well as other attacks in Jordan and even a rocket attack from Lebanon into northern Israel.
US forces and their allies came close to capturing al-Zarqawi several times since his campaign began in mid-2003. His closest brush may have come in late 2004, when Major General Hussein Kamal, the deputy interior minister, said that Iraqi security forces caught al-Zarqawi near the insurgent stronghold of Fallujah - but then released him because they didn’t realise who he was.
In May 2005, statements posted on the internet by his group said that al-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, another statement said al-Zarqawi was fine and had returned to Iraq.
US forces believe they just missed capturing al-Zarqawi in a February 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 al-Zarqawi’s computer was seized along with pistols and ammunition.
Zalmay Khalilzad, the US ambassador to Iraq, said that al-Zarqawi was the "godfather of sectarian killings and terror in Iraq" and described his death as a "good omen".
thetimesonline.co.uk
