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.
Makes sense, given the name of the operation. The bad guys are inside the ring while we watch them die. Nice immage.
I like the way you think.
You can bet that we have all our electronic intercepts fired up when a statement like this is released.
Another one for the collection!
I hope this means without his head attached.
I am past ready to see images of Zarqawi dead or captured. Both the WOT and the DOW could use the resulting shot in the arm.
Leave it to the MSM to rain on their parade, and try and find the cloud around every silver lining. Mentioning that the insurgents are highly trained as the last sentence, along with the numbers of american dead, leads this article down a spiral into another hackjob against the american military, trying to make it look like they're being fair, but in reality taking the armed forces down a peg.
Hmmm...
I sure HOPE this is true and not another false alarm / false report.Pingin' in case it might be true. :)
IRAQ: AL-ZARQAWI SERIOUSLY INJURED, SAYS
IRAQI OFFICIAL [Operation Matador]Excerpt:
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.
Please let me know if you want ON or OFF my General Interest ping list!. . .don't be shy.
Not captured, killed. His memory will go the way of Uday and Qusay. He will be forgotten. If alive, he will be a living, breathing hero to millions.
A google search (how I found this article originally) of AKI, Italy, and Pope did not turn up any false reports of the former Pope's demise.
This is an interesting twist on the constant "Zarqawi Arrested" stories.
I'm surprise no one posted the dreaded "NOT THIS S*** AGAIN" pic! LOL!
Thanks for the ping!
I'll take that as a good sign. ;-)
I wonder if they aren't trying to flush him out, make him say NO I"M NOT and then they nab him, but so far it hasn't worked.
Sounds good to me.
I'm from the SHOW ME state. SHOW ME the proof he's outta action. But here's hoping that it is true.
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