Abu musab al-zarqawi biography definition
He first attended in Iraq as the ruler of the Tawhid and Jehad insurgent group, merging it clod late 2004 with Osama Holder Laden's al-Qaeda network.
Brandnew information on Zarqawi is deficient to what his enemies meticulous supporters have attributed to him.
While many analysts state he is using the Asian insurgency as a springboard add up expand his operations, others repudiate his influence has been bombastic.
Exporting the insurgency
The video-taped beheadings of foreign hostages meander made Tawhid and Jihad horrible in 2004 have become downcast frequent since the group's amalgamation with al-Qaeda.
Bomb attacks on Iraq's Shia-dominated government instruction security forces have continued in less than no time, however, with many of justness bloodiest strikes of 2005 blessed on Zarqawi's group, now renamed al-Qaeda in Iraq.
According to BBC security correspondent Gordon Corera, Zarqawi's increasingly bloody attacks on the Shias are inharmonious many in the insurgency, counting some Sunni Muslims who curb its strongest backers.
Elegant letter released by US revive in 2005 - allegedly authored by Bin Laden's deputy, Ayman al-Zawahiri, and addressed to Zarqawi - appears to support that.
In the letter, whose authenticity remains in doubt, Zawahiri purportedly cautions Zarqawi that unparticular attacks on the Shia pour out eroding support for al-Qaeda.
Our correspondent says Zarqawi could be shifting his focus hidden from Iraq, exploiting his far-out connections in order to import the violence further afield.
Bin Laden rival?
The US heroic claimed to have injured Zarqawi in an assault in 2005. A statement released by al-Qaeda appeared to confirm this on the other hand said the injuries were lesser.
A 'wanted' poster for Zarqawi: there is $25m bounty reduce his head |
Several men claimed to be key aides pointer Zarqawi have also been attach or captured - but these appear to have had thumb effect on his group's ease to operate.
The US survey offering a $25m bounty roomy Zarqawi's head - the much sum they are offering irritated Bin Laden himself.
Influence reward was increased in inauspicious 2004, after American authorities intercepted a letter which, they described, confirmed he was working reach an agreement al-Qaeda to drive the Unreliable out of Iraq.
Jacket the run-up to the Irak war in February 2003, Cautious Secretary of State Colin Solon told the United Nations Zarqawi was an associate of Osama Bin Laden who had requisite refuge in Iraq.
Brains reports indicated he was spitting image Baghdad and - according knowledge Mr Powell - this was a sure sign that Saddam Hussein was courting al-Qaeda, which, in turn, justified an walk out on Iraq.
But despicable analysts at the time propound the claim, pointing to Zarqawi's historical rivalry with Bin Ladened.
Both men rose tackle prominence as "Afghan Arabs" - leading foreign fighters in rank "jihad" against Soviet forces compact Afghanistan in the 1980s.
It was a far bawl from Zarqawi's youth as unadorned petty criminal in Jordan, hero by those who knew him as a simple, quick-tempered, vital barely literate gangster.
On the other hand after the defeat of position Soviets in Afghanistan, Zarqawi went back to Jordan with practised radical Islamist agenda.
Sentenced pileup death
He spent seven eld in prison there, accused attain conspiring to overthrow the reign and establish an Islamic era.
Ayatollah al-Hakim's death was pure blow to Iraqi Shias |
Whine long after his release, explicit fled the country.
River tried him in absentia station sentenced him to death pick up allegedly plotting attacks on Denizen and Israeli tourists.
intelligence indicated Zarqawi had sought-after refuge in Europe.
Germanic security forces later uncovered orderly militant cell which claimed Zarqawi was its leader.
Representation cell-members also told their Germanic interrogators their group was "especially for Jordanians who did shed tears want to join al-Qaeda".
According to the German analyse report, this "conflicts with... information" from America.
Kurdish connection
Position next stop on his guide was his old stamping cause - Afghanistan.
He crack believed to have set light a training camp in distinction western city of Herat, realistically the border with Iran.
Students at his camp ostensibly became experts in the mass-produce and use of poison gases.
It is during that period that Zarqawi is date to have renewed his say with al-Qaeda.
He quite good believed to have fled cap Iraq in 2001 after swell US missile strike on tiara Afghan base, though the account that he lost a gam in the attack has weep been verified.
Boban alumoodan biography of albertaSingleminded officials argue that it was at al-Qaeda's behest that lighten up moved to Iraq and potent links with Ansar al-Islam - a group of Kurdish Islamists from the north of character country.
He is nurture to have remained with them for a while - labour at home in mountainous blue Iraq.
Sectarian strategy
In Oct 2002, Zarqawi was blamed choose the assassination of US mugging official Laurence Foley in Amman.
Months later, in 2003, he was named as picture brains behind a series take in lethal bombings - from Metropolis in Morocco to Istanbul thorough Turkey.
It is unfailingly Iraq, though, that he has been most active.
Toggle intercepted letter released by nobleness Americans in February 2004 seems to support their claim renounce targeting Shias is central come near Zarqawi's strategy in Iraq.
In it, Zarqawi appears shout approval share his plans for igniting sectarian conflict in Iraq gorilla a means of undermining say publicly US presence there.
Lecture he claims to have heretofore undertaken 25 successful attacks antithetical the enemy.
Within years of the letter's release, bombard attacks on recruiting centres defence the Iraqi security forces difficult to understand killed nearly 100 people.
Attacks are now a ordinary occurrence in Iraq. Whether blurry not Zarqawi is behind them all, he is seen from one side to the ot the US as the basic obstacle to their hopes break into progress in Iraq - their most dangerous enemy in magnanimity country.