Al-Qaida in Iraq's leader, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi has been killed in a U.S. airstrike in Iraq. Here are some facts about his life:

EARLY LIFE:

Born as Ahmad Fadhil Nazzal al-Khalayleh

Born, Oct. 20, 1966

Rose from tough street life in Jordanian industrial town of Zarqa

Solidified Islamic radical ideology in Jordanian prison in late 1990s

HOOKED UP WITH BIN LADEN:

Released from a Jordanian prison in an amnesty

Went to Afghanistan in 1999, where he formed links with bin Laden

Fled during U.S. led war that ousted the Taliban in late 2001

MILITANT LEADERSHIP:

Name emerges in 2003 as leader of "Monotheism and Holy War"

In 2004 group announces allegiance to al-Aqida and Osama bin Laden

Changes name of group to "al-Qaida in Iraq"

Bin Laden endorses al-Zarqawi as his deputy in Iraq

TERRORIST CLAIMS:

His group claims two August 2003 blasts, seen as start of insurgency

Attack against U.N. headquarters in Baghdad that killed 22 people

Attack against Shiite shrine in Najaf that killed more than 85

US SEARCH:

U.S. put $25 million bounty on his head, same as bin Laden

Believed to have personally beheaded American hostages Nicholas Berg in April 2004 and Eugene Armstrong in September 2004