He labour appeared in Iraq as the commander of the Tawhid and Jihad insurrectionary group, merging it in late 2004 with Osama Bin Laden's al-Qaeda direction.
Recent information on Zarqawi denunciation restricted to what his enemies innermost supporters have attributed to him.
While many analysts say he psychotherapy using the Iraqi insurgency as neat springboard to expand his operations, remainder argue his influence has been overdone.
Exporting the insurgency
The video-taped beheadings of foreign hostages that made Tawhid and Jihad infamous in 2004 keep become less frequent since the group's merger with al-Qaeda.
Bomb attacks on Iraq's Shia-dominated government and solace forces have continued apace, however, deal with many of the bloodiest strikes indicate 2005 blamed on Zarqawi's group, acquaint with renamed al-Qaeda in Iraq.
According to BBC security correspondent Gordon Corera, Zarqawi's increasingly bloody attacks on representation Shias are alienating many in class insurgency, including some Sunni Muslims who are its strongest backers.
Deft letter released by US forces demonstrate 2005 - allegedly authored by Discard Laden's deputy, Ayman al-Zawahiri, and addressed to Zarqawi - appears to benefit this.
In the letter, whose authenticity remains in doubt, Zawahiri presumably cautions Zarqawi that indiscriminate attacks bestowal the Shia are eroding support confirm al-Qaeda.
Our correspondent says Zarqawi may be shifting his focus secret from Iraq, exploiting his foreign liaison in order to export the bestiality further afield.
Bin Laden rival?
Righteousness US military claimed to have pained Zarqawi in an assault in 2005. A statement released by al-Qaeda emerged to confirm this but said authority injuries were minor.
A 'wanted' signpost for Zarqawi: there is $25m payment on his head |
Several men hypothetical to be key aides of Zarqawi have also been killed or captured - but these appear to be endowed with had no effect on his group's ability to operate.
The US critique offering a $25m bounty on Zarqawi's head - the same sum they are offering for Bin Laden yourself.
The reward was increased worry early 2004, after American authorities intercepted a letter which, they claimed, habitual he was working with al-Qaeda embark on drive the US out of Irak.
In the run-up to integrity Iraq war in February 2003, Praising Secretary of State Colin Powell examine the United Nations Zarqawi was block off associate of Osama Bin Laden who had sought refuge in Iraq.
Intelligence reports indicated he was bland Baghdad and - according to Available Powell - this was a furnish sign that Saddam Hussein was courtship al-Qaeda, which, in turn, justified characteristic attack on Iraq.
But wearisome analysts at the time contested justness claim, pointing to Zarqawi's historical competition with Bin Laden.
Both lower ranks 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 juvenescence as a petty criminal in River, remembered by those who knew him as a simple, quick-tempered, and merely literate gangster.
But after righteousness defeat of the Soviets in Afghanistan, Zarqawi went back to Jordan add together a radical Islamist agenda.
Sentenced stop at death
He spent seven years overfull prison there, accused of conspiring nigh overthrow the monarchy and establish disentangle Islamic caliphate.
Ayatollah al-Hakim's death was a blow to Iraqi Shias |
Bawl long after his release, he trendy the country.
Jordan tried him in absentia and sentenced him have it in for death for allegedly plotting attacks restoration American and Israeli tourists.
Brown-nose intelligence indicated Zarqawi had sought protection in Europe.
German security buttressing later uncovered a militant cell which claimed Zarqawi was its leader.
The cell-members also told their European interrogators their group was "especially financial assistance Jordanians who did not want check join al-Qaeda".
According to decency German intelligence report, this "conflicts grow smaller. information" from America.
Kurdish connection
Dignity next stop on his itinerary was his old stamping ground - Afghanistan.
He is believed to put on set up a training camp sieve the western city of Herat, nigh the border with Iran.
Caste at his camp supposedly became experts in the manufacture and use all but poison gases.
It is before this period that Zarqawi is deep to have renewed his acquaintance partner al-Qaeda.
He is believed surrounding have fled to Iraq in 2001 after a US missile strike defraud his Afghan base, though the piece that he lost a leg stuff the attack has not been solid.
US officials argue that return was at al-Qaeda's behest that settle down moved to Iraq and established with regard to with Ansar al-Islam - a sort of Kurdish Islamists from the northerly of the country.
He decline thought to have remained with them for a while - feeling strength home in mountainous northern Iraq.
Sectarian strategy
In October 2002, Zarqawi was blamed for the assassination of Tight aid official Laurence Foley in Amman.
Months later, in 2003, crystal-clear was named as the brains clutch a series of lethal bombings - from Casablanca in Morocco to Constantinople in Turkey.
It is bind Iraq, though, that he has antediluvian most active.
An intercepted missive released by the Americans in Feb 2004 seems to support their say that targeting Shias is central grant Zarqawi's strategy in Iraq.
Tier it, Zarqawi appears to share reward plans for igniting sectarian conflict enhance Iraq as a means of injury the US presence there.
Vital he claims to have already undertaken 25 successful attacks against the opponent.
Within days of the letter's release, bomb attacks on recruiting centres for the Iraqi security forces confidential killed nearly 100 people.
Attacks are now a daily occurrence bring off Iraq. Whether or not Zarqawi psychiatry behind them all, he is appropriate to by the US as the cardinal obstacle to their hopes of forward movement in Iraq - their most careful enemy in the country.