The new leader of Al-Qaida in Iraq said in an audiotape posted on the internet that more than 4,000 foreign insurgents have been killed in Iraq since the US—led invasion in 2003.
"The blood has been spilled in Iraq of more than 4,000 foreigners who came to fight," said the man, who identified himself as Abu Hamza al-Muhajir—also known as Abu Ayyub al-Masri—the leader of Al-Qaida in Iraq, though the voice could not be independently identified.
The Arabic word he used indicated he was speaking about foreigners who joined the insurgency in Iraq, not coalition troops.
It was believed to be the first major statement from insurgents in Iraq about their losses.
The group has announced that al-Masri succeeded Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, who died in a US Airstrike north of Baghdad in June.
On the tape, al-Masri also urged Muslims to make the holy month of Ramadan a "month of holy war".
"I congratulate the Muslim nation on the occasion of the holy month of Ramadan, the month of jihad (holy war). I ask God to make it a month for honour and victory for Muslims," the voice said. It also asked explosives experts and nuclear scientists to join his group's holy war against the West.
{{/usCountry}}"I congratulate the Muslim nation on the occasion of the holy month of Ramadan, the month of jihad (holy war). I ask God to make it a month for honour and victory for Muslims," the voice said. It also asked explosives experts and nuclear scientists to join his group's holy war against the West.
{{/usCountry}}"The field of jihad (holy war) can satisfy your scientific ambitions, and the large American bases (in Iraq) are good places to test your unconventional weapons, whether biological or dirty, as they call them," said the man, who identified himself as Abu Hamza al-Muhajir—also known as Abu Ayyub al-Masri—the leader of Al-Qaida in Iraq.