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COMMANDER // 1966–2006

Abu Musab al-Zarqawi

commanding officerJordanAl-Qaeda in Iraq5 battles3 wars

Lifespan

1966 – 2006

19701975198019851990199520002005Afghanistan War · 2001–2021 major U.S. war periodIraq War · 2003–2011 major U.S. combat/occupation periodWar on Terrorism · 2001-2021United States invasion of Afghanistan — January 1, 2001 · Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan · Afghanistan WarAnbar campaign (2003–2011) — March 20, 2003 · Iraq · Iraq WarIraq War — March 20, 2003 · Ba'athist Iraq · War on TerrorismFirst Battle of Fallujah — April 4, 2004 · Jama'at al-Tawhid wal-Jihad · Iraq WarSecond Fallujah — Nov–Dec 2004 · Al-Qaeda in Iraq · Iraq War

Active service 2001–2004 — 5 battles across 3 wars; first command at age 35.

Profile

Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, born Ahmad Fadeel Nazal al-Khalayleh, was a Jordanian jihadist militant who ran a training camp in Afghanistan. He became known after going to Iraq and masterminding a series of bombings, beheadings, and other attacks during the Iraq War, reportedly "turning an insurgency against U.S. troops" in Iraq into a Shia–Sunni civil war. He was sometimes known by his supporters as the "Sheikh of slaughtering".

Source · Wikipedia · Q181049

Battles (5)

Last verified June 2026
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