Abu Musab al-Zarqawi Killed in Matador?

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Abu Musab al-Zarqawi Killed in Matador?

James Joyner | Wednesday, May 11, 2005

AL-ZARQAWI SERIOUSLY INJURED, SAYS IRAQI OFFICIAL (AKI)

The Jordanian militant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi is “serious injured, possibly dead” according to Colonel Fouad Hani Hassan, commander of the fifth division of the Iraqi armed forces, cited by ‘Elaph’, a popular website in the Arab world. Al-Zarqawi, considered al-Qaeda’s leader in Iraq, is believed to have been injured in the major offensive US-led forces have been carrying out in the western Anbar province over the last few days.

Operation Matador is centred around the town of Qaim, just a few kilometres from the Syrian border, and is aimed at destroying the strongholds of foreign fighters coming over the border into Iraq to join the insurgency. It’s the fourth day of violent fighting around the town, which has been surrounded by troops since Saturday night. Bombing is said to be heavy in Qaim, where there has been house-to-house fighting between troops and insurgents.

He’s been reported dead before, so I shan’t get too excited until I see his head on a stick. Or dry ice. Or whatever they’re putting dead terrorists’ heads on these days.

At any rate, the report is four hours old and hasn’t circulated beyond this one report and the blogs who have picked it up.

via Kate McMillan via Captain’s Quarters

UPDATE: (June 8, 2006) He’s finally, actually dead. Abu Musab al-Zarqawi Killed (Video)

About the Author: James Joyner is the publisher of Outside the Beltway and the managing editor of the Atlantic Council. He's a former Army officer, Desert Storm vet, and college professor with a PhD in political science from The University of Alabama. He lives just outside the Beltway in Alexandria, Virginia with his wife and infant daughter.

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