ABU MUSAB AL-ZARQAWI KILLED IN U.S. BOMBING ATTACK (updated with pictures)
By Andrew Cochran
LAST UPDATE AT 10:45 am ET. “Today, al-Zarqawi was terminated” (Iraqi Prime Minister al-Maliki). From the AP story: "Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, al-Qaida's leader in Iraq who led a bloody campaign of suicide bombings and kidnappings, has been killed in an air strike, U.S. and Iraqi officials said Thursday...a major victory in the U.S.-led war in Iraq and the broader war on terror." The attack occurred 8 km north of Baqubah (about 30 miles north of Baghdad). Press conference by U.S. General Casey and Iraqi Prime Minister al-Maliki: U.S. air strike followed by Iraqi police raid confirms that al-Zarqawi and 7 aides killed - facial recognition, fingerprints, and DNA testing confirmed he was killed at 6:15 pm on June 7 in Iraq. U.S. General also reports that AZ's "spiritual advisor," Sheik Abd-Al-Rahman, also killed. Multinational Force press release reports that “tips and intelligence from Iraqi senior leaders from his network" led to the raid. Jordanian officials claim that they assisted in the identification of the safehouse location for coalition forces. You can read a summary of al-Zarqawi's life and murderous acts on the CNN site and on the Washington Post site. News reports also indicate that Iraqi police captured one aide and a computer at the scene. Fox News reports two 500-pound laser-guided bombs hit the safehouse - see the result below.
At the Multiunational Force press conference in Iraq this morning, Maj. Gen. Caldwell added that the strike enabled coalition forces to also raid 17 other targets in Iraq and find a "treasure trove" of intelligence. Gen. Caldwell said they didn't want to strike the other targets prior to the air strike. This further indicates that the strike was the result of detailed planning and pursuit over several weeks.
President Bush this morning (White House transcript): Our forces "delivered justice...This violent man will never murder again...this is a severe blow to al-Qaida in Iraq." He complimented U.S. and Iraqi forces for their "persistence and determination" and warned that the "difficult mission" in Iraq continues, with more violence ahead.
Al Qaeda in Iraq confirmed Zarqawi's death: "We herald the martyrdom of our mujahid (warrior) Sheikh Abu Musab al-Zarqawi in Iraq... and we stress that this is an honour to our nation," signed by Zarqawi's deputy, Abu Abdulrahman al-Iraqi.
Bill Roggio has reported here on the operations of U.S. Task Force 145, a Special Ops unit that was chasing AZ constantly and was probably involved in this raid. Selected posts:
Iraqi Government Forms; Recent Counterterrorism Ops
Task Force 145 Strikes in Latifiyah; Nets Abu Mustafa
The Battle of Yusifayah
Evan Kohlmann is one of the world's leading experts on al-Zarqawi and his network. His "Chart of Major Sunni Militant Groups in Iraq," which included the al-Zarqawi network, is a reference used and cited worldwide, including by U.S. military forces in Iraq. Some of his recent and pertinent posts here on CTB:
More Stories of Fallen Al-Qaida Fighters in Iraq
The Inside Story of Al-Qaida's First Terrorist Training Camp in Iraq
Interview with Co-Founder of Al-Qaida's anti-Shiite Omar Corps in Iraq
Sunni Iraqi Insurgents Deny Reported Friction With Zarqawi
Notes on the New Zarqawi Video
The State of Al-Qaida in Saudi Arabia, Connections to Zarqawi in Iraq
You can also see more on Evan's site, GlobalTerrorAlert.com.
Walid Phares analyzed AZ's sole video in "Troubles Behind the Al-Zarqawi Video?
Steven Emerson on MSNBC today: Combination of intel from Iraqi and Jordanian sources led to the safehouse; Jordanians confirmed location just prior to the strike. Strike "decapitates" AQ in Iraq, which will be in some disarray until a new leader is anointed.
Iraqi bloggers are understandably rejoicing - see "Iraq the Model." Prime Minister al-Miliki also announced his nominees to head the Defense and Interior Ministries, and the Iraqi Parliament confirmed them quickly, an important development in the formation of the new Iraqi government.
As of 9:55 am ET, crude oil is down about $1 a barrel, after being down more earlier. Gold is down over $12/ounce. Don't expect al-Zarqawi's death to have any long-term impact on financial markets - the difficulties in Iraq's oil industry are due to a myriad of sources, including Sunni insurgent attacks and corruption.
Pictures of the press conference, site of al-Zarqawi's death, and dead al-Zarqawi
