Iraqi Government Confirms al-Zarqawi Wounded

The Iraqi government has confirmed reports from an Islamic web site that terrorist leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi is seriously wounded.

Iraqis say al-Zarqawi is hurt (Capital News 9)

Iraq’s interior minister said he has confirmed reports that militant leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi has been wounded. The Jordanian-born fugitive heads a group called al-Qaida-in-Iraq blamed in attacks killing hundreds of people, including US soldiers. A Web site claiming to speak for him announced this week that al Zarqawi was wounded in a gunbattle.

Iraq’s interior minister said he’s been able to confirm that. The official told a Baghdad news conference that Iraqi authorities don’t know if al-Zarqawi is dead, but “are sure” he’s been injured.

Internet statements on behalf of al-Qaida-in-Iraq have asked Muslims to pray for al-Zarqawi.

It sounds promising, although we’ve gotten false reports from the Iraqi government before. NPR reported this morning that the site that initially reported Zarqawi’s wounds now say that an interim replacement has been named.

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James Joyner
About James Joyner
James Joyner is Professor and Department Head of Security Studies at Marine Corps University's Command and Staff College. He's a former Army officer and Desert Storm veteran. Views expressed here are his own. Follow James on Twitter @DrJJoyner.

Comments

  1. Just Me says:

    I will believe it only when they show me the pictures.

    These reports are just way too common, and should be taken with far more than a grain of salt.

  2. Roger says:

    No matter. Our foreign policy simply produces lots more terrorist/patriots.

  3. Michael says:

    Ok Robert, the “terrorist/patriot” thing just made every comment you could possiblyt make going forwar completely irrelevant and ignored.

    Terrorists are patriots. Nice.

  4. Roger says:

    Mike you don’t get it. One man’s terrorist is another man’s hero. Be it George Washington, the Viet Cong, the IRA, Hamas, or George Bush. Take a boarder view. Do you believe that your world view has priority, sanctity? If so,why? Is it that you solely know God’s view?

  5. LJD says:

    Roger:

    You’re way out of line. George Washington and George Bush didn’t torture or behead anybody. They didn’t intentionally kill women and children for effect. Interesting to see your contempt for God though, typical left-wing disrespect. If you truly feel this way, you may feel better when you “martyr” yourself.