Posted on 05/28/2005 3:37:40 PM PDT by Deetes
LONDON, May 28 (Reuters) - Al Qaeda's leader in Iraq Abu Musab al-Zarqawi had fled the country after being seriously injured in a U.S. missile attack, a British newspaper reported on Sunday, quoting a senior commander of the Iraqi insurgency.
Al-Zarqawi has shrapnel lodged in his chest and may have been moved to Iran, The Sunday Times newspaper reported, adding his supporters may try to move him on to another country for an operation.
The paper quoted an unnamed insurgency commander as saying the Jordanian-born militant was wounded three weeks ago when a U.S. missile hit his convoy near the northwestern Iraqi city of al Qaim.
"Shrapnel went in between the right shoulder and his chest, ripped it open and is still stuck there," the commander said, adding a second piece of shrapnel penetrated Zarqawi's chest but exited from his back.
"There was concern about spinal injuries," the commander said. "But his ability to move eliminated that fear."
The Sunday Times said Zarqawi, accused of masterminding many of the worst insurgent attacks in Iraq, was carried from his vehicle after the missile strike and given basic first aid in a hideout.
When he became delirious with fever four days later he was taken to hospital in the city of Ramadi, 110 km (68 miles) west of Baghdad, it said. The paper did not say when the commander was speaking but said the source had proved reliable in the past.
The report contradicted a statement from Zarqawi's group posted on the Internet on Friday, which said he was still leading operations in Iraq.
(Excerpt) Read more at alertnet.org ...
Maybe a missle got him , yeah that's the ticket , PING !!!
This guy shows up more places then Elvis.
Dead man walking!
More on Zark.
The idea of the monster experiencing excruciating pain, as opposed to a quick death, is appealing.
Chester's site is posting this http://www.theadventuresofchester.com/
May 28, 2005
Zarqawi surrounded?
Just an FYI, from an Alert Reader.
The Kuwaiti News Agency is reporting that
BAGHDAD, May 27 (KUNA) -- A force of Iraqi commandoes, supported by US forces, have sourrounded the village of Abu Shallal, north of here, after reports indicated that Abu Musab Zarqawi might have taken refuge there, Interior ministry sources told KUNA on Friday. -- The sources have indicated that Zarqawi has been spotted by eyewitnesses driven in a red Opel in the village of Abu Shallal, near an area called al-Tarmia. He was said to have taken refuge in the home of an individual named Sheikh Hatem al-Amir.
The Iraqi commandos and US forces are said to be ready to start an operation aimed at capturing him in that village, said the sources.
Interior ministry forces last week surrounded an area named al-Etaifiya, in the middle section of Baghdad, where the Karkh hospital there was inspected for a possible sighting of Zarqawi.
Interior minister Bayan Jabr Solagh had stated at a press conference yesterday, when announcing the launching of Operation Lightning, that he was able to confirm that Zarqawi had been injured.
The news about his injury had been received by the Interior ministry five days ago, said Solagh, although the extent of the injury was not quite clear.
Solagh's statements came hours after an Internet website denied what had been rumored yesterday that al-Qaeda had appointed a replacement for Zarqawi, pending his recovery from his injury. (end)
I've never used this source before, so I can't speak to its accuracy, but it's the official news organ of the Kuwaiti government from what I can gather, so there's something to be said for that.
If this report is true, there's some small satisfaction to be had from the notion that Zarqawi has been sliced and diced by metal shrapnel from a U.S. missile. Perhaps the rotten puke's gotten some sense of what it's like to have one's head sawed off.
But who knows really... I hope he is hurting BAD and we catch him . that would be double the pain...
President Bush wants them Dead or Alive. It seems we can't get them either way.
Maybe a missle got him , yeah that's the ticket , PING !!!
Very interesting! Personally - based on nothing except what I read on FR - I think he's alive and well and trying to fake us out. Things were probably getting too hot for him and he thought somebody somewhere might be tempted by that 25 mill.
But it would certainly be lovely if we have him holed up someplace. If so, I hope we take no prisoners this time. Just enough body scraps for DNA testing.
I think he got away again. When we do catch up him "Just enough body scraps for DNA testing" is the best possible outcome IMHO.
Becoming my take as well - As the more hours go by and a continuous of differing rumors develop....it leads one to assume Zarqawi is fine and this is a deliberate smoke screen.
"wounded three weeks ago when a U.S. missile hit his convoy near the northwestern Iraqi city of al Qaim."
"When he became delirious with fever four days later he was taken to hospital in the city of Ramadi, 110 km (68 miles) west of Baghdad, it said."
That all jives with previous reports of a week or more ago.
Word should now be passed that all missles fired during that time period were coated with pig fat.
Agree.........Wouldn't suprise me to find out he's on a DOD Contractors payroll running through checkpoints with valid credentials and documents during the day. And using his intel collected to snag an frag on his own time. Just a SWAG on my part of course......
First people say he's dead, now they say that he's in Iran. Won't believe anything they say unless the Iraqi or the US government confirms it.
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