[quote87ad908427]BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the most wanted terrorist in Iraq, was killed in a coalition airstrike near Baquba, jubilant U.S. and Iraqi authorities announced Thursday.
The killing of al-Zarqawi, who had a $25 million bounty on his head, is a major coup for the embattled coalition forces.
Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, Gen. George Casey, the highest-ranking U.S. commander in Iraq, and U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Zalmay Khalilzad announced the development at a news conference.
"Today, Zarqawi has been killed," al-Maliki said. The announcement was greeted by cheers and applause.
Khalilzad -- who called al-Zarqawi "the godfather of sectarian killing and terror in Iraq" -- said the death "marks a great success for Iraq and the global war on terror" and calls it a "good omen" for the new Iraqi government.
"His organization has been responsible for the deaths of thousands of civilians in Iraq and abroad."
In London, British Prime Minister Tony Blair said called the al-Zarqawi's death "a very important moment in Iraq. A blow for al Qaeda in Iraq is a blow for al Qaeda everywhere."
Casey provided details about the strike that killed al-Zarqawi.
He said al-Zarqawi and a key lieutenant, spiritual adviser Sheik Abd-Al-Rahman, were at an isolated safe house at 615 p.m. on Wednesday.
"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 kilometers north of Baquba when the airstrike was launched.
Baquba is a volatile area northeast of Baghdad in Diyala province, a mixed Shiite-Sunni jurisdiction. There have been many roadside bombings and shootings throughout the province and within the week, severed heads were found in fruit boxes there.
"Iraqi police were first on the scene after the air strike, and elements of Multi-National Division North, arrived shortly thereafter," Casey said. "We have been able to identify al-Zarqawi by fingerprint verification, facial recognition and known scars."
In addition to Zarqawi and the spiritual adviser, seven others died in the attack.
Casey wouldn't provide many details about the action but said that "all of these operations are the result of a long, painstaking process where tips and intelligence are received, processed and checked out."
This particular operation had been in the works for a couple of weeks, leading to the location of the house and the meeting, he said. He noted that the dwelling was in a wooded area.
Casey, proudly saying "the movement has lost its leader," cautioned that "this is just a step in the process" to defeat the insurgency.
Al-Maliki indicated that the strike on al-Zarqawi was the "result of cooperation" with the citizenry, saying that authorities many times have asked the citizenry to provide information.
"This is a message to all those who take violence as a path."
Khalilzad said the demise of al-Zarqawi won't end the violence in Iraq, but it is "an important step in the right direction." He said "there will be difficult days ahead" but said that "today is a good day."[/quote87ad908427]
Ryizan
08-06-2006 02:40:17
Damn...he took 7 shots and wouldn't go down. It was a pistol to the head that killed him!
There were some people on the TV complaining about the ..weak.. 5.56mm guns we're using and how they are causing deaths to many US soldiers (true) And how much more powerful the AK47's they are using.
But yes! Good Day!! Good Day!!
iamzim
08-06-2006 03:21:40
Where do you see this 7 shots?? All I see is air strike!
[quoted5e7385136="iamzim"]Where do you see this 7 shots?? All I see is air strike![/quoted5e7385136]
ya rly
Ryizan
08-06-2006 03:46:08
It was on the news? On WWL Channel 4 news?! (local) Oh Well I haven't gone to sleep tonight and probably mixed up some news. I willl try to catch the rebraoad cast but....
dmorris68
08-06-2006 06:48:57
They dropped two 500-lb bombs on the safe house he was in. There are no reports of any gunfire being exchanged.
CollidgeGraduit
08-06-2006 06:58:39
I'm guessing at this point he knows there weren't any virgins waiting on the other side.
doylnea
08-06-2006 07:15:56
[quoteb7e2ec7e90="CollidgeGraduit"]I'm guessing at this point he knows there weren't any virgins waiting on the other side.[/quoteb7e2ec7e90]
holy LOL D +karma
i blame history
08-06-2006 07:27:19
eh yeah i think the 'proof' picture, shown to prove he is dead, is readily available.... it does not look like a picture of a guy that was shot in the head.
[quotec788e6a4ae="JJPRO11"]twisted fuck him twisted[/quotec788e6a4ae]
no thanks, i would rather not be a necrophiliac.
now to get the head man...we all know that bin laden is smoking pot and having sex with harems of hot women.
syriandoode
08-06-2006 16:28:59
[quote22f01bbcf6="jy3"][quote22f01bbcf6="JJPRO11"]twisted fuck him twisted[/quote22f01bbcf6]
no thanks, i would rather not be a necrophiliac.
now to get the head man...we all know that bin laden is smoking pot and having sex with harems of hot women.[/quote22f01bbcf6]
that would be hookah not pot wink
redman12
08-06-2006 16:42:58
Heres the video http//dynamic.cnn.com/apps/tp/video/world/2006/06/08/vo.zarqawi.bomb.dod/video.ws.asx?NGUserID=aa51298-1892-1149809926-1&adDEmas=R00%26hi%26comcast.net%2673%26usa%26602%2660601%2614%2607%26U1%26M1%26