'al-Zarqawi' says aide killed in Fallujah battle

A speaker believed to be the al-Qaida leader in Iraq said in an audiotape found today on a website that one of his top lieutenants was killed in last year’s US-led assault on the insurgent stronghold of Fallujah.

The speaker, claiming to be Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, said his top lieutenant, Omar Hadid, was killed during fighting in November when US and Iraqi forces recaptured the city.

It was the first public report by the insurgents that Hadid, a leading guerrilla commander in the city, was dead.

It was widely believed that Hadid, who was in his 30s, fled the city as it was being attacked.

“Days after the battle began, one of the commanders suggested to brother Omar Hadid and brother Abu Harith Mohammed Jasem al-Issawi to shave their beards and leave Fallujah through a safe exit so that they can start working from outside,” the speaker said.

He added that “the two heroes refused, saying ‘by God we will not leave as long as there is one immigrant fighting in the city’. They were martyred. May God’s mercy be upon them.”

Al-Zarqawi hinted that the battle of Fallujah was the beginning of a long war.

“The ferocious wars are not determined by the outcome of days or weeks. They take their time until it’s time to announce the victory of one of the parties,” he said.