Posted on 05/11/2005 6:40:58 AM PDT by Quilla
Baghdad, 11 May (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', one of the most popular websites 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 the town, where there has been house-to-house fighting between troops and insurgents.
The satellite TV channel Al-Arabiya reported on Wednesday that two US military helicopters were brought down during clashes in villages near Qaim, where military aircraft had been carrying out bombing raids to root out Islamic militants from their hideouts.
On Tuesday, Raja Nawaf, the newly-appointed governor of the Anbar province was kidnapped near Qaim and his family was told he would only be released if US troops pulled out of the town. A US military spokesman responded to the news by reiterating that they do not give into terrorist demands.
While Operation Matador is not specifically aimed at catching al-Zarqawi, Brig. Gen. James Conway told a Pentagon news briefing on Tuesday that "it would be a welcome event to come across him or his body."
This is the biggest US military operation since the offensive on the rebel-held town of Fallujah in November last year. More than 1,000 troops are involved and at least 15 US soldiers are said to have died in the fighting so far. The US military claims some 100 militants have been killed, but inside sources have admitted however, that they have encountered strong resistance in the town, with the insurgents demonstrating a high level of training.
Love that pic.And I'd love to see it in real life, too!
Sir, you should be writing novels. I enjoyed your post.
Wake me when it's over.We have been here before.
I think the next campaign should be called Operation Chupacabra.
"Call me when his cowardly head is on a silver platter."
Why ruin a perfectly good silver platter? Call ME when they've thrown his head down into an outhouse hole...
I LIKE THAT!!!
After Operation Chupacabra...
Operation Sasquatch
Operation Reticulan
Operation West of the Rockies ("West of the Rockies, you're on the air with Art Bell...")
>>but inside sources have admitted however, that they have encountered strong resistance in the town, with the insurgents demonstrating a high level of training.<<
Good. It may mean we are getting to the core of the nest.
Oh please let this change to US/Iraqi force commander's state that Al-Zarqawi now resides in the cell next to Saddam Hussein in Baghdad.
Very nice picture.
Got him again!!!! This is one slippery guys, how he keeps escaping after being captured in Houdiniesque
His Maternal grandmother was NOT that good looking!
Otherwise, I think you have the family tree correct.
RamS
We NEVER learn our lessons. We're still letting people through the borders. We won't profile. We're just waiting for another 911 to happen. I am disgusted with all of that.
Instead of a silver platter, how about inside a gunny=sack?
Zarqawi must have 9 lives. Isn't this aboubt the 3rd or 4th time he has beeen injured or killed in the last week or two?
How about without dry ice as in "Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia?" I think that was the first movie to get an "R" rating for violence.
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