Changes

By 2003, Zarqawi relocated his al Qaeda affiliate Group of Monotheism and Jihad to Iraq. It became an affiliate group to al-Qaeda and was commonly known in Western media sources as al Qaeda in Iraq.  

By 2003, Zarqawi relocated his al Qaeda affiliate Group of Monotheism and Jihad to Iraq. It became an affiliate group to al-Qaeda and was commonly known in Western media sources as al Qaeda in Iraq.  

Zarqawi pledged allegiance to Osama bin Laden in a statement posted to a website on 17 October 2004. The statement read: "Talks, during which views were exchanged between Sheikh Abu Mus'ab...and brothers from Al-Qaeda, have been going on for eight months." The statement said that talks were interrupted for a time but then resumed, adding, "Our respected brothers in Al-Qaeda understood the strategy of Jama'at Al-Tawhid wa Al-Jihad in the land of the two rivers [Iraq] and the [[caliphate]]s and their hearts opened to their approach.... We deliver to the nation the news that both Jama'at Al-Tawhid wa Al-Jihad's Amir [al-Zarqawi] and soldiers have pledged allegiance to the sheikh of the [[mujahedin]], Osama bin Laden, and that they will follow his orders in [[jihad]] for the sake of God so there will be no more tumult or oppression, and justice and faith in God will prevail." The statement called on the "youth of this nation" to join Zarqawi's followers under the banner of Al-Qaeda.

Zarqawi pledged allegiance to Osama bin Laden in a statement posted to a website on 17 October 2004. The statement read: "Talks, during which views were exchanged between Sheikh Abu Mus'ab...and brothers from Al-Qaeda, have been going on for eight months." The statement said that talks were interrupted for a time but then resumed, adding, "Our respected brothers in Al-Qaeda understood the strategy of Jama'at Al-Tawhid wa Al-Jihad in the land of the two rivers [Iraq] and the [[caliphate]]s and their hearts opened to their approach.... We deliver to the nation the news that both Jama'at Al-Tawhid wa Al-Jihad's Amir [al-Zarqawi] and soldiers have pledged allegiance to the sheikh of the [[mujahedin]], Osama bin Laden, and that they will follow his orders in [[jihad]] for the sake of God so there will be no more tumult or oppression, and justice and faith in God will prevail." The statement called on the "youth of this nation" to join Zarqawi's followers under the banner of Al-Qaeda. On December 28, 2004 bin Laden announced to the world the alliance with Zarqawi and anointed him Emir of Iraq, urging jihadis to follow and obey.<ref>http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/1230/p01s03-woiq.html</ref>

By 2004, Zarqawi had already claimed 25 attacks against US and its allied Iraqi forces. Zarqawi is personally responsible for the beheading and murder of American [[Nicholas Berg]].<ref>http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/para/zarqawi.htm</ref> His attacks eventually occurred daily until he was killed by a precision U.S. airstike in 2006.

By 2004, Zarqawi had already claimed 25 attacks against US and its allied Iraqi forces. Zarqawi is personally responsible for the beheading and murder of American [[Nicholas Berg]].<ref>http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/para/zarqawi.htm</ref> His attacks eventually occurred daily until he was killed by a precision U.S. airstike in 2006.