Abu Musab al-Zarqawi killed in F-16 airstrike

Rhoads · by **Rhoads** » 09 Jun 2006, 20:35

So this picture is right... (from Los Angeles Times)

Very, very good news. Once the head is out, I hope the snake dies forever...

Cheers

Meathook · by **Meathook** » 09 Jun 2006, 20:39

Lets hope....nice job by this paper

falconfixer860261 · by **falconfixer860261** » 09 Jun 2006, 20:54

Regarding the "heroes or not" postings check out, "<a href="f-16_forum_viewtopic-t-5630.html">Sheep, Wolves, and Sheepdogs</a>" in Air Force Life forum.

Meathook · by **Meathook** » 09 Jun 2006, 22:33

falconfixer860261 - Thank you very much, it is wonderful, well written and exactly how things are, I loved it and salute the author...makes me prouder and sad at the same time that folks are so naive in far too many cases.

Thanks again

parrothead · by **parrothead** » 10 Jun 2006, 09:26

I was watching the news tonight and they reported that of the two F-16s tasked with the mission, only one reached the target - the other one was still getting gas from a tanker when the order came down to take him out - NOW. This doesn't sound like SOP to me, but the pilot who reached the target sure earned his beer

!

Meathook · by **Meathook** » 10 Jun 2006, 16:11

And a damn big STEAK to boot

EBJet · by **EBJet** » 10 Jun 2006, 17:04

I think it would be highly appropriate in this case to have that steak wrapped in bacon..

LWF · by **LWF** » 10 Jun 2006, 18:15

The CNN report said he was dead when they got there, but I've heard that Zarqawi was still conscious when they got there, and that he died soon after.

Meathook · by **Meathook** » 10 Jun 2006, 18:24

Hard to know what to believe from the media these days but according to the news (taken with a pinch of salt), even the military said he lived shortly, tried to move (in pain I hope) then died...as far as I am concerned...

J.J. · by **J.J.** » 11 Jun 2006, 21:40

A lot of updates from me:

At first, here's the original airstrike video at the official website of the Multi-National Force - Iraq (running time 2:10):
http://www.mnf-iraq.com/zarqawi/video/Zaqarwi_Clip.wmv

And here's a link to the version at USAF's public main website:
http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123021352

Note: Anyone from the professionals who can tell me what´s the moving little white “glow-worm”, seen on the video?

This still image of the video footage was released by MNF - I as a slide without any caption.

Additionally, DoD released the following still image:

Original caption: A still photo made from an armament delivery recording of the air strike on the building housing Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and others on June 7, 2006. Department of Defense photo. (Released)

Mid-res version:
http://www.defenselink.mil/photos/Jun20 ... 0X-007.jpg

MNF - I also released the following photos (all posted here with their original captions):

Shown is the site where a Coalition air strike destroyed a safe house and killed terrorist leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi Wednesday evening.

Hi-res version:
http://www.mnf-iraq.com/zarqawi/photos/ ... site_1.jpg

An aerial view shows the site where Abu Musab al-Zarqawi was killed when his safe-house was hit with an air strike in an isolated area north of Baghdad Wednesday.

Hi-res version:
http://www.mnf-iraq.com/zarqawi/photos/ ... site_2.jpg

Members of the media survey the site where Abu Musab al-Zarqawi was killed on Wednesday. The crater left by the strike has been partially filled by engineers.

Hi-res version:
http://www.mnf-iraq.com/zarqawi/photos/ ... site_4.jpg

Only tangle steel and cement remain of the safe-house where Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, along with five others were killed as a result of an air strike.

Hi-res version:
http://www.mnf-iraq.com/zarqawi/photos/ ... site_5.jpg

U.S. and Iraqi Soldiers provide security of the site where Abu Musab al-Zarqawi was killed Wednesday.

Hi-res version:
http://www.mnf-iraq.com/zarqawi/photos/ ... site_6.jpg

Arabic media interview an Iraqi soldier during a recent visit to the site where a Coalition air strike destroyed a safe house killing six, including terrorist leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi Wednesday.

Hi-res version:
http://www.mnf-iraq.com/zarqawi/photos/ ... site_3.jpg

Related to Maj. Gen. Caldwell´s first press briefing, DoD published the following low-res briefing photo (together with two others):

Original caption: Army Maj. Gen. William B. Caldwell points to a photo of the safe house where terrorist Abu Musab al Zarqawi was killed during a coalition air strike June 7, 2006. Caldwell said fighters dropped two 500-pound bombs on the building, killing Zarqawi, his spiritual adviser Sheik Abdul Rahman, and four other persons. (U.S. Army photo)

Note: So I think, this aerial picture (taken from which surveillance weapon system?) shows the intact building sometime before the airstrike.

Additionally, DoD published the following hi-res photo:

Original caption: Rubble and debris litter the site of the last safe house of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi in Hibhib, Iraq, June 8, 2006. The top insurgent target in Iraq, along with several of his associates, was killed during an air strike on the house June 7, 2006. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Zach Mott, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division PA Office)

Hi-res version:
http://www.defenselink.mil/home/images/ ... /22937.jpg

Some more related low-res pics, released by DoD, are presented in the following photo essay:
http://www.defenselink.mil/home/photoes ... 608a1.html

Excerpt from the unedited transcript of the weekly press briefing, given by MNF - I spokesman Maj. Gen. William B. Caldwell IV on Thursday, June 8, 2006, at the Combined Press Information Center, Baghdad:

Maj. Gen. Caldwell:
"As you observe the target here, there was a flight of two F-16s from the United States Air Force. They have now been told where the target is. They have identified it. The lead aircraft is going to engage it here momentarily with a 500-pound bomb on the target. At this point, they're making an assessment as to whether or not the target had been fully engaged and whether they need to reengage it one more time. The decision has been made now by the commander, the pilot in charge up there, that they are going to do a re-attack, and you'll see the second 500-pound bomb go in shortly."

Full transcript:
http://www.mnf-iraq.com/Transcripts/060608.htm

Excerpt from the DoD News Briefing on Friday, June 9, 2006, with Maj. Gen. Caldwell who spoked live from Baghdad:

Maj. Gen. Caldwell:
"Well, as we talked yesterday, you know, General Casey has done a tremendous job empowering his commanders in the field here to make those kind of tactical decisions that are necessary to prosecute this war against terrorists and to work in support of the government of Iraq.
At the lowest level possible that decision was made by an operations officer down there, based on what he was operating with, with many factors being utilized. And just before executing, went ahead and ensured that his commanders above him had situation awareness of what was about to go down. So they had just a couple of minutes there as they called that F-16 in -- because they had two of them up there flying. One was sitting at tanker. So as they called in and asked for the operation to be executed, the other one couldn't come off the tanker. So that single bird came in on a single ship and executed that, which gave them a few minutes to do the notification up that they were about to take down Zarqawi."

Full transcript:
http://www.mnf-iraq.com/PentagonPresser ... ldwell.htm

For full videos of both press briefings and for all other related stuff please check out:
http://www.mnf-iraq.com/

A second related news story, released by USAF (for the first full story please see above), states:

Air Force F-16 airstrike kills al-Zarqawi

6/9/2006 - COMBINED AIR OPERATIONS CENTER, Southwest Asia (AFPN) -- Two U.S. Air Force F-16C Fighting Falcons, supporting coalition actions in Operation Iraqi Freedom, dropped precision munitions near Baquba, Iraq, on June 7, killing al Qaida’s leader in Iraq, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and other terrorists.

The aircraft, assigned to U.S. Central Command Air Forces, dropped two precision-guided 500-pound bombs, a GBU-12 laser-guided bomb and a GBU-38 joint direct attack munition, destroying an isolated terrorist safe house, where al-Zarqawi and other terrorists were meeting…

Full story:
http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123021432

On June 9, 2006, in a news article the commercial „Air Force Times“ reported (source is „AP“):

… An F-16C Fighting Falcon jet dropped both bombs — first a 500-pounder known as a GBU-12, guided to its target by a laser designator… The second was a GBU-38, a relatively lightweight bomb guided to its target by satellite signal… The weapon types were described to reporters at the Pentagon on Thursday by Air Force Lt. Gen. Gary North, the chief of Central Command Air Forces, based in Qatar…

Full story:
http://www.airforcetimes.com/story.php? ... 858632.php

One the same day, in a news article “The Washington Post” reported:

Two Air Force F-16C jets were brought into the attack while flying an unrelated mission, Lt. Gen. Gary North, commander of the Combined Forces Air Component, told Pentagon reporters by telephone Thursday. The pilots were told there was a "high-value target in the building."

Up today, I found no official transcript of this important telephone briefing, given by Lt. Gen. North. Anyone who can help me?

Background info:
According to an official USAF biography, since February 23, 2006, Lt. Gen. Gary L. North is Commander, 9th Air Force and U.S. Central Command Air Forces, Shaw Air Force Base, S.C. As the Air Component Commander for U.S. Central Command, the general is responsible for developing contingency plans and conducting air operations in a 27-nation area of responsibility covering Central and Southwest Asia and the Horn of Africa. General North has commanded the 33rd Fighter Squadron at Shaw AFB, S.C.; 35th Operations Group at Misawa Air Base, Japan; 8th Fighter Wing at Kunsan AB, South Korea; and the 18th Wing at Kadena AB, Japan. Lt. Gen. North is a command pilot with more than 4,100 flying hours, primarily in the F-4, F-15 and F-16. He flew 54 combat missions during operations Desert Storm and Southern Watch. According to F-16.net´s „F-16 Pilots by Flying Hours“, his callsign was (or still is) „Nordo“. As of April 1996, as he was assigned to the 35th FW, he had accumulated 3000 flying hours in the F-16.

Current USAF photo of Lt. Gen. Gary L. North

Hi-res version:
http://www.af.mil/shared/media/bio/hi_res/north_gl2.jpg

On June 9, 2006, “The Washington Post” published the following graphic:

(According to “The Washington Post”, they used a June 1 satellite image, courtesy of GeoEye)

The original source includes a mid-res version:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/co ... 00156.html

Meanwhile, on Saturday, June 10, 2006, a third press briefing was hold with Maj. Gen. Caldwell. But because of the weekend date, today there´s no official transcript available. Tommorow, I will check again the websites of DoD and MNF - I for related official transcripts.Today, I can only post excerpts from some media reports.

Excerpts from the news story “Zarqawi's Hideout Was Secret Till Last Minute“, published on June 10, 2006, by the “The Washington Post”:

Mounted at the last minute by a single F-16 that was pulled away from refueling, the airstrike that killed Abu Musab al-Zarqawi stemmed from tracking a top aide of the guerrilla chief to a hideout whose location was unknown until shortly before the attack, a top U.S. military spokesman disclosed Saturday.
New details about the operation still were emerging three days after two 500-pound bombs ended the hunt for Iraq's most-wanted man at a remote farmhouse in palm groves west of the Iraqi city of Baqubah. Maj. Gen. William B. Caldwell IV, a military spokesman, said U.S. forces had not known until Wednesday where Zarqawi was. With no heavy concentration of troops in the area, Caldwell said, American commanders decided to try to kill Zarqawi with an airstrike rather than wait to muster a ground assault to capture him, and risk his escaping.

U.S. forces treated Zarqawi's hideout "as a time-sensitive target," Caldwell told reporters…

However, "we did not have actual physical ground troops in the area," Caldwell said.

Commanders decided to call in an airstrike, Caldwell said. They quickly located two Air Force F-16s within striking range, one engaged in refueling at the time, Caldwell said.

One F-16 was ordered to peel off for the mission.

"He left his wing man" and headed off as a "single ship" -- something "that is not done in the Air Force," Caldwell said, highlighting the immediacy of the mission.

Gen. George Casey, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, was told by commanders just before the strike that Zarqawi's hideout was about to be hit, the spokesman said.

The F-16 hit at about 6:15 p.m., following instructions to drop two bombs, Caldwell said.

The strike killed three men, two women and a girl age 5 to 7, Caldwell said. U.S. officials previously had denied accounts from witnesses that a child died in the strike; Caldwell said he had been told only after his first press briefings that one of the dead was a girl.

Of the six victims, he said, authorities have identified only Zarqawi and Abdel Rahman.

Iraqi police, who have a station a few miles away, were the first on the scene, American and Iraqi officials say. By the time American forces arrived, the Iraqis had Zarqawi on a stretcher, Caldwell said…

Full story:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/co ... deast/iraq

Currently, there are some more media reports online, but mainly with the same info. So I hope, in the next couple of days I will find the two remaining official transcripts related to North and Caldwell.

Asif · by **Asif** » 11 Jun 2006, 22:14

A good write up in the Sunday Times.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0, ... 22,00.html

HazF16 · by **HazF16** » 11 Jun 2006, 22:34

J.J. wrote:
Note: Anyone from the professionals who can tell me what´s the moving little white “glow-worm”, seen on the video?

i'm not a professional but i think it indicates the direction in which the TGP is pointing relative to the nose of the a/c.

J.J. · by **J.J.** » 11 Jun 2006, 22:58

Thank you very much for your reply, HazF16! But this "glow-worm" on the video made some "stupid" movings which I can´t rely to the aircraft. In this case, I still want for an answer from real professionals.

Meathook · by **Meathook** » 12 Jun 2006, 12:32

Nice articles..I liked it

AfterburnerDecalsScott · by **AfterburnerDecalsScott** » 12 Jun 2006, 13:49

Little OT, but North is the guy who tagged an Iraqi MiG-25 during an OSW deployment in a 2-seat viper, 778 with an AMRAAM...first US F-16 kill, and first 120 kill.

BTW, I heard back from the 332nd PA people today. I had written asking if the tail # of the jet that was on the mission was releasable.....no joy at the moment, but it'll get out.