Abu Musab al-Zarqawi Dead, Killed In Airstrike

Al Qaeda in Iraq leader deadAbu Musab al-Zarqawi, the most recognizable face of Iraq's violent insurgency, died in a coalition airstrike near Baquba, jubilant U.S. and Iraqi authorities said today. U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Zalmay Khalilzad called al-Zarqawi "the godfather of sectarian killing and terror in Iraq" and said his death "marks a great success for Iraq and the global war on terror."

Jordanian-born Zarqawi, who had sworn loyalty to Osama bin Laden, had come to symbolize the radical Islamic insurgency against U.S. occupation in which thousands had been killed. His campaign is also believed to have played a major role in inflaming Sunni-Shi'ite tensions in the country.

U.S. officials in Iraq hailed his killing, but warned that Zarqawi's followers still posed a security threat to the Iraq government.


British Prime Minister Tony Blair said Zarqawi's death was a blow against al Qaeda everywhere.