Abu Musab al-Zarqawi

Abu Musab al-Zarqawi ({{lang-ar|??????? ????????}}) (possibly born on October 20, 1966) is a Sunni Jordanian insurgent, Al Qaeda in Iraq guerrilla leader and terrorist. He has allegedly confessed, in various audiotapes, to committing numerous acts of violence in Iraq, including killing of civilians and hostage-taking. Among the many acts of violence he is known to have committed, Zarqawi is notorious for beheading hostages in Iraq. Due to his current role in the Iraqi insurgency and his prior activities in Jordan, both American and Jordanian authorities are pursuing his capture. As an Islamist militant, Zarqawi is violently opposed to the presence of U.S., Israeli and Western military forces in the Islamic world. In Iraq he has in September 2005 reportedly declared "all-out war" on Shia Muslims http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/407AAE91-AF72-45D7-83E9-486063C0E5EA.htm and prior to that already sent numerous Al Qaeda in Iraq suicide bombers to target areas with large concentrations of Shia civilians.

Related Topics:
October 20 - 1966 - Sunni - Jordanian - Al Qaeda - Guerrilla - Terrorist - Iraq - Behead - Hostage - Iraqi insurgency - American - Islamist - Militant - Israel - Islamic - Shia - Muslim - Al Qaeda in Iraq

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Zarqawi is believed to be a one-time rival, but now high-ranking member of the Saudi millionaire Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda militant network, and since October 2004 refers to his own organization (Jama'at al-Tawhid wal-Jihad - Unification and Holy War Group, an insurgent network operating in Iraq) as "Al-Qaida in Iraq". On October 21, 2004, Zarqawi officially announced his allegiance to Al Qaida; on December 27, 2004, Al-Jazeera broadcast an audiotape of bin Laden calling Zarqawi "the prince of al Qaeda in Iraq" and asked "all our organization brethren to listen to him and obey him in his good deeds."http://edition.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/meast/12/27/binladen.tape/

Related Topics:
Saudi - Osama bin Laden - Al Qaeda - Jama'at al-Tawhid wal-Jihad - Insurgent - October 21 - December 27 - Al-Jazeera - Audiotape

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Zarqawi is the most wanted man in Iraq, http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/4581801.stm having participated in or masterminded a number of violent actions against United States and Iraqi targets. The U.S. government is offering a USD25 million reward for information leading to his capture, the same amount offered for the capture of Osama bin Laden before March 2004. On 15 October 2004, the U.S. State Department added Zarqawi and the Jama'at al-Tawhid wal Jihad group to its list of Foreign Terrorist Organizations and ordered a freeze on any assets that the group might have in the United States. There are reports that he was arrested by the Iranian government, and, together with several other high-level al-Qaida suspects, he was offered to the U.S. government in a deal that was never consummated.http://www.juancole.com/2004/08/newsweek-franklin-confesses-aipac.html

Related Topics:
United States - USD - March 2004 - 15 October - 2004 - U.S. State Department - Jama'at al-Tawhid wal Jihad - Foreign Terrorist Organizations - Iranian

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One alias, Ahmad Fadeel al-Nazal al-Khalayleh

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({{lang-ar|أحمد فاضل النزال الخلايله}}), is believed to be his real name. Zarqawi literally translates as "man from Zarqa"; he is from the town of Zarqa, 30 minutes northeast of Amman. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/2730253.stm http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3483089.stm http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/FC11Ak01.html

Related Topics:
Zarqa - Amman

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