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Iraq's most wanted 'eliminated'
08/06/2006 10:40 - (SA)
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| This is an undated photo released in Amman of Jordanian-born terrorist mastermind Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. (Petra, AP) |
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Baghdad - Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, al-Qaeda's leader in Iraq who led a bloody campaign of suicide bombings and kidnappings, has been killed in an air raid north of Baghdad - a major victory in the US-led war in Iraq and the broader war on terror.
Iraq's prime minister and US officials said his identity was confirmed by fingerprints and a first-hand look at his face.
The announcement came six days after the Jordanian-born terror leader appeared in a videotape, railing against Shi'ites in Iraq and saying militias are raping women and killing Sunnis and the community must fight back.
'Today, al-Zarqawi was eliminated'
Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said al-Zarqawi was killed along with seven aides on Wednesday evening in a house 50km northeast of Baghdad, in the volatile province of Diyala, just east of the provincial capital of Baqouba.
"Today, al-Zarqawi was eliminated," 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.
He 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.
Warning to those who embrace violence
"Those who disrupt the course of life, like al-Zarqawi, will have a tragic end," he said.
He also warned those who would follow the militant's lead that "whenever there is a new al-Zarqawi, we will kill him."
"This is a message for all those who embrace violence, killing and destruction to stop and to (retreat) before it's too late," he said. "It is an open battle with all those who incite sectarianism."
'A good day for America'
Khalilzad added "the death of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi is a huge success for Iraq and the international war on terror." He also gave a thumbs-up and said it was a good day for America.
Casey said the hunt for al-Zarqawi began in the area two weeks ago, and al-Zarqawi's body was identified by fingerprints and facial recognition.
Iraq's most wanted militant
The Jordanian-born militant, who is 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 put a $25m bounty on al-Zarqawi, the same as bin Laden.
Attacks beyond Iraq's borders
In the past year, he 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, 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. Iraq announced that 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, internet statements by his group said al-Zarqawi had been wounded in fighting with Americans and was being treated in a hospital abroad, but a later statement said he was fine and had returned to Iraq.
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