Posted on 06/10/2006 10:03:21 AM PDT by Grendel9
The US military says it has carried out nearly 60 raids following the killing of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq.
Some raids were carried out using information gathered from the house where al-Zarqawi was killed on Wednesday, a US military spokesman said.
Major General William Caldwell said documents and information storage devices were found, as well as rifles and grenades, at the house near Baquba, north of Baghdad.
At least 24 people were detained and one person was killed during the raids, he said.
Caldwell displayed photographs of items he said were recovered during the operations including a suicide belt, passports, licence plates and guns.
DNA tests The military also revealed al-Zarqawi was still alive after two 500lb bombs were dropped on his hideout.
"He mumbled something, but it was indistinguishable and it was very short," Caldwell said.
Asked whether al-Zarqawi was shot after US ground troops arrived at the scene, Caldwell said he could not give a definitive answer.
The US military is still waiting for the results of DNA tests carried out by the FBI to confirm al-Zarqawi's identity.
Family sources told the AFP news agency that al-Zarqawi's 18-month-old son was also killed in the US air strike on the home.
'Martyr' The family of the Jordanian-born militant want to bury him in his hometown of Zarqa, east of the capital, Amman, a move opposed by the Jordanian authorities.
Al-Zarqawi's brother, Sayel al-Khalayleh said: "Everybody must understand that his place must be near his family.
"He is a martyr and should be treated as such."
A senior Jordanian security official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the government would not allow Zarqawi to be buried in Jordan "under any circumstances
Al-Zarqawi's family hope to bury him in his hometown, Zarqa.
Anyone know the definition of MARTYR that would apply to this guy?
Perhaps the UN should now swing into action: demand that we stop now. The 'Rats should start lobbying to put an end to the slaughter of innocent "insurgents".
And more than a few Al Jazeera reporters will be caught up in the sweep, of that I'm certain.
Zarqawi was a member of the Bani Hassan tribe which is very prominent in Jordan. The tribe had banished him and was ashamed of him for being "abnormal".
Likely his wife and kids were ostricized and that also prompted the move to Iraq. Very probable that his family was in this safe house and died with him.
Use him for land fill with no marker. He'd do wonders for crab grass and other assorted weeds.
"Muhammad Ismael, a 40-year-old Iraqi taxi driver, was standing outside his home in the tiny village of Hibhib on Wednesday evening when something unusual caught his eye.
Three GMC trucks, each with blackened windows, rumbled past his home and toward the little house in a nearby grove of date palms that for more than three years had stood abandoned.
Of the three GMC trucks that had pulled up to the house in the date palm grove, only two stayed. One of them drove away and never came back.
Mr. Ismael, the taxi driver, said American soldiers began swarming the town, seemingly coming from nowhere, with some soldiers sliding down ropes dropped from Black Hawk helicopters.
As the American commandos took up positions, Mr. Ismael said, someone from inside the house in the date grove began shooting. The Americans returned fire, Mr. Ismael said, but the firefight did not last long."
That is when two F-16C's paid a visit....
The departing GMC likely carried the informant who gave up Zarqawi and his entire network for $10k, per my previous post.
Zarqawi was likely outside the house trying to escape in one of the GMC's during the encirclement. Seeing this, the Delta Force observers likely called for an air strike, not willing to wait for a capture attempt and possible escape.
Remember we had eyes on him a year ago February and he got away.
Our Troops are still at it, taking advantage of the Big Mo! Thank God for them and for you...doing whatever you are doing to make sure things are running as smoothly as can be expected in a war zone.
Thanks and stay safe
I think his body should be soaked in lard for a week and that he should be buried in pig sty.
Between Cal 50th and Zarq receiving his just desert, it has been one hell of a great week.
It sure has been a great week.
And just in case you missed this, check out this post. I think you will love it. :)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1646892/posts?page=3#3
I keep thinking of the scene from "Hannibal" when those friendly porky pigs take care of the Mason and his gang. That might be a fitting resting place for Al.
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