Zarqawi 'left Iraq for surgery'

From an anonymous source:

A late report which I'm pursuing is that Abu Musab al-Zarqawi while in Iran may be leaving for a third western country to receive further surgery. Possibly Switzerland.
CR.
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This from the Sunday Times
Zarqawi 'left Iraq for surgery '
29/05/2005 09:13  - (SA)  

London - Al-Qaeda's leader in Iraq, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, has fled the country for emergency surgery after a US air strike left him with shrapnel lodged in his chest, the Sunday Times newspaper reported.

In a front-page report that quoted "a senior insurgent commander in close contact with his group", it said it was believed that Zarqawi - the most wanted insurgent in Iraq - was in Iran.

The report contradicted a statement on several Islamist websites on Friday in which al-Qaeda in Iraq asserted that Zarqawi was "in good health" and directing military operations.

The Sunday Times said Zarqawi has suffered bouts of high fever since he was wounded by a missile that struck his three-car convoy three weeks ago as he fled a US offensive near al-Qaim, a town in northwest Iraq.

[This would be during Operation Matador.] 

"Shrapnel went in between the right shoulder and his chest, ripped it open and is still stuck in there," the commander was quoted as saying.

Not known how serious

His condition late last week was described as stable, but supporters were preparing to move him to a "non-Arab" country for surgery to remove the two pieces of shrapnel, The Sunday Times said.

The newspaper said the commander's account could not be independently corroborated, but added that he has proved reliable in the past.

US officials, who initially reacted sceptically to reports that Zarqawi had been hit, have since given greater credence to the claims although they said they still have not been able to confirm them.

The Washington Post has quoted a Zarqawi lieutenant by the nom-de-guerre of Abu Karrar as saying the Jordanian-born insurgent chief was shot and wounded in fighting with US forces near the western city of Ramadi on May 21-22.

[10 days AFTER he had reported to the Ramadi hospital with a wound which was reported on the 15th? WP had better get a new source. My blogging sources are more reliable.]

On Thursday, Iraqi interior minister Bayan Baqer Solagh said he had information that Zarqawi had been wounded, but that the seriousness of his injuries was unknown.

End Times article.
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My Blog --

Those who bother to read these postings should remember that I reported May 15th, 2005 that Abu Musab al-Zarqawi had been wounded the week of May 8th. Likely on May 10th or 11th.

A Private Intelligence source known to me subsequently reported that Zarqawi was badly wounded in the Al Qa'im   assault near the Syrian border on May 11th during Operation Matador. Reports were that it was a serious stomach wound.

Operation Matador in western Iraq near the Syrian border in which nine Marines were killed and 40 wounded, while US forces killed more than 125 insurgents and detained 39 "of intelligence value", ended May 15th.

Zarqawi was quickly skirted out of the area and taken to Ramadi on the road to Baghdad, within part of the Sunni triangle. He was was bleeding heavily when he was brought into the hospital there on Wednesday, the 11th. After receiving emergency first-aid and receiving unspecified medication, he was quickly taken away, and is now in serious condition with his wounds at an unknown location.

The doctor who treated Zarqawi was able to recognize him by photographs he had seen of him on television, had urged him to stay put, but apparently, he and his entourage quickly chose to leave the area, reports said.
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Later.

An al-Qa'ida website posted today that Abu Musab al-Zarqawi has been wounded and asked for Muslims to pray for his recovery.

*AP photo

One wonders why al-Qa'ida would publish something such as this, which is bad news for them, when they are skilled in the art of public relations and propaganda?

It is possible that Zarqawi could actually be dying,or in fear of dying.  After the intitial report that Zarqawi had been wounded, a website released a letter praising Zarqawi, ending with, "By Allah, I love al-Zarqawi."    

This most recent posting, could actually be an attempt to rally the Muslims, so if he does recover, the people can argue it was because of the prayers of the Muslim people.  Or, is this preparing his followers for his death?  Or is this complete deception?

Next we may be reading a statement online about his martyrdom.  We shall see.

US Military Intelligence has said it hasn't been able to confirm the report.

Update:

Jihad Unspun, a pro-Jihad site in English has translated the full article online here.

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My original e-mail below
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May 15, 2005
Hala Jaber and Ali Rifat, Baghdad

IRAQ'S most wanted terrorist, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, has been seriously wounded, according to a doctor who claims to have treated him last week.

The doctor told an Iraqi reporter in the western city of Ramadi that Zarqawi was bleeding heavily when he was brought into hospital on Wednesday [May 11th] . After treating his wounds the doctor tried to persuade him to remain, but the Jordanian-born terrorist's minders drove him away.

The claim was supported yesterday by a senior commander in the Iraqi resistance who had been to Ramadi to investigate the report. The doctor, who refused to specify the nature of the wounds and asked not to be identified, was detained by the Americans on Friday [May 13th] for questioning, residents said.

Zarqawi, described as Osama Bin Laden's "emir" in Iraq, is the Americans' top target. He has been blamed for countless suicide bombings and for the execution of western hostages, including Ken Bigley, the Liverpool engineer. There is a £13million bounty on his head.

Last week US forces launched an offensive near al-Qaim, more than 100 miles northwest of the city, and claimed to have killed scores of insurgents.

According to the doctor, Zarqawi was escorted into Ramadi general hospital by smartly dressed men. "He was bleeding heavily and his escorts were well dressed with a look about them that was different from the casualties and family members we had been receiving from the al-Qaim offensive," he was quoted as saying.

"I treated his injury and asked that he remain in hospital for further observations and told him that we would have to register him and take down his name and details. But he became very nervous and agitated. He refused and told me he would not be staying.

"The three men with him asked me politely that he be allowed to leave hospital immediately and that I supply them with a prescription and a list of medication that he may need."

The doctor, who recognised Zarqawi from his photograph on television, followed them to their vehicle to try to convince them that the patient should remain in hospital. At that point, he said, he saw machineguns. They threatened to kill him if he told anyone what he had seen.

They then produced a wad of US dollars to secure his silence. The doctor said that he had refused to take the cash.