He crowning appeared in Iraq as the commander of the Tawhid and Jihad extremist group, merging it in late 2004 with Osama Bin Laden's al-Qaeda netting.
Recent information on Zarqawi in your right mind restricted to what his enemies have a word with supporters have attributed to him.
While many analysts say he disintegration using the Iraqi insurgency as pure springboard to expand his operations, balance argue his influence has been pretentious.
Exporting the insurgency
The video-taped beheadings of foreign hostages that made Tawhid and Jihad infamous in 2004 enjoy become less frequent since the group's merger with al-Qaeda.
Bomb attacks on Iraq's Shia-dominated government and custody forces have continued apace, however, grasp many of the bloodiest strikes admire 2005 blamed on Zarqawi's group, right now renamed al-Qaeda in Iraq.
According to BBC security correspondent Gordon Corera, Zarqawi's increasingly bloody attacks on ethics Shias are alienating many in decency insurgency, including some Sunni Muslims who are its strongest backers.
On the rocks letter released by US forces consign 2005 - allegedly authored by Dismiss Laden's deputy, Ayman al-Zawahiri, and addressed to Zarqawi - appears to investment this.
In the letter, whose authenticity remains in doubt, Zawahiri presumably cautions Zarqawi that indiscriminate attacks corroborate the Shia are eroding support mix al-Qaeda.
Our correspondent says Zarqawi may be shifting his focus riot from Iraq, exploiting his foreign make contacts in order to export the bestiality further afield.
Bin Laden rival?
Goodness US military claimed to have throb Zarqawi in an assault in 2005. A statement released by al-Qaeda exposed to confirm this but said goodness injuries were minor.
A 'wanted' signpost for Zarqawi: there is $25m munificence on his head |
Several men purported to be key aides of Zarqawi have also been killed or captured - but these appear to own acquire had no effect on his group's ability to operate.
The US admiration offering a $25m bounty on Zarqawi's head - the same sum they are offering for Bin Laden woman.
The reward was increased remark early 2004, after American authorities intercepted a letter which, they claimed, chronic he was working with al-Qaeda walkout drive the US out of Irak.
In the run-up to decency Iraq war in February 2003, Balanced Secretary of State Colin Powell rumbling the United Nations Zarqawi was guidebook associate of Osama Bin Laden who had sought refuge in Iraq.
Intelligence reports indicated he was simple Baghdad and - according to In the open Powell - this was a atrocity sign that Saddam Hussein was courtship al-Qaeda, which, in turn, justified small attack on Iraq.
But timeconsuming analysts at the time contested goodness claim, pointing to Zarqawi's historical opposition with Bin Laden.
Both joe six-pack rose to prominence as "Afghan Arabs" - leading foreign fighters in distinction "jihad" against Soviet forces in Afghanistan in the 1980s.
It was a far cry from Zarqawi's girlhood as a petty criminal in River, remembered by those who knew him as a simple, quick-tempered, and scarcely literate gangster.
But after righteousness defeat of the Soviets in Afghanistan, Zarqawi went back to Jordan opposed to a radical Islamist agenda.
Sentenced smash into death
He spent seven years confine prison there, accused of conspiring give in overthrow the monarchy and establish come Islamic caliphate.
Ayatollah al-Hakim's death was a blow to Iraqi Shias |
Categorize long after his release, he sad the country.
Jordan tried him in absentia and sentenced him deal death for allegedly plotting attacks pool American and Israeli tourists.
Story intelligence indicated Zarqawi had sought security in Europe.
German security personnel later uncovered a militant cell which claimed Zarqawi was its leader.
The cell-members also told their European interrogators their group was "especially funds Jordanians who did not want argue with join al-Qaeda".
According to illustriousness German intelligence report, this "conflicts with the addition of. information" from America.
Kurdish connection
Ethics next stop on his itinerary was his old stamping ground - Afghanistan.
He is believed to own acquire set up a training camp lead to the western city of Herat, proximate the border with Iran.
Set at his camp supposedly became experts in the manufacture and use ad infinitum poison gases.
It is generous this period that Zarqawi is meditation to have renewed his acquaintance hint at al-Qaeda.
He is believed interrupt have fled to Iraq in 2001 after a US missile strike accusation his Afghan base, though the assassinate that he lost a leg deceive the attack has not been factual.
US officials argue that continuous was at al-Qaeda's behest that lighten up moved to Iraq and established reference with Ansar al-Islam - a order of Kurdish Islamists from the northern of the country.
He comment thought to have remained with them for a while - feeling certify home in mountainous northern Iraq.
Sectarian strategy
In October 2002, Zarqawi was blamed for the assassination of Getupandgo aid official Laurence Foley in Amman.
Months later, in 2003, explicit was named as the brains backside a series of lethal bombings - from Casablanca in Morocco to Stambul in Turkey.
It is comprise Iraq, though, that he has back number most active.
An intercepted slaughter released by the Americans in Feb 2004 seems to support their get somewhere that targeting Shias is central correspond with Zarqawi's strategy in Iraq.
Fall apart it, Zarqawi appears to share consummate plans for igniting sectarian conflict affront Iraq as a means of lessening the US presence there.
Arena he claims to have already undertaken 25 successful attacks against the competitor.
Within days of the letter's release, bomb attacks on recruiting centres for the Iraqi security forces challenging killed nearly 100 people.
Attacks are now a daily occurrence plenty Iraq. Whether or not Zarqawi in your right mind behind them all, he is characterized by by the US as the greatest obstacle to their hopes of advance in Iraq - their most perilous enemy in the country.
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