Where is Abu Musab al-Zarqawi? Unfortunately no one really knows other than the terror chief himself and the few aides surrounding him. According to the latest information, Zarqawi is well enough to move around and might have taken aide outside of Iraq.

KUNA reports according to their sources Zarqawi is hiding out in Abu Shallal Village which is north of Baghdad. U.S. and Iraqi forces have surrounded the village and preparing an assault to locate Zarqawi or see if there was any truth to a tip recieved.

A force of Iraqi commandoes, supported by US forces, have sourrounded the village of Abu Shallal, north of here, after reports indicated that Abu Musab Zarqawi might have taken refuge there, Interior ministry sources told KUNA on Friday. — The sources have indicated that Zarqawi has been spotted by eyewitnesses driven in a red Opel in the village of Abu Shallal, near an area called al-Tarmia. He was said to have taken refuge in the home of an individual named Sheikh Hatem al-Amir.

If this information is accurate, it is quite stunning Zarqawi was driving around in a red Opel. A red car sticks out on a heavily traveled highway during rush hour much less in Iraq where the car of choice seems to be small trucks or four-door sedans that are 1990s to 1980s condition and usually white, grey or a varient thereof. Zarqawi, who is known around Iraq as the master of disguise and escape, should simply have known better than to ride in a car that sticks out like a sore thumb. This is why I’m a bit hesitant that this information is accurate. Who know though and we shall see. Let’s hope for the best.

If Zarqawi is not in Abu Shallal Village, according to Reuters he might be in Iran.

Al-Zarqawi has shrapnel lodged in his chest and may have been moved to Iran, The Sunday Times newspaper reported, adding his supporters may try to move him on to another country for an operation.

The paper quoted an unnamed insurgency commander as saying the Jordanian-born militant was wounded three weeks ago when a U.S. missile hit his convoy near the northwestern Iraqi city of al Qaim.

“Shrapnel went in between the right shoulder and his chest, ripped it open and is still stuck there,” the commander said, adding a second piece of shrapnel penetrated Zarqawi’s chest but exited from his back.

If Zarqawi fled to Iran, he wouldn’t be the only Al Qaida member seeking refuge in the country. Both stories, while different in terms of where Zarqawi is, both point to good news for the Coalition and the Iraqi people. They both give further evidence to the fact Zarqawi is injured and both might have the same bit of credibility in that Zarqawi might be on his way to Iraq and stopped in Abu Shallal Village.

Since Zarqawi was injured in Western Iraq near Qaim, it would be a reasonable assumption he was initially treated as close to the scene as possible as the injuries are serious. It’s quite a trek from Western Iraq to Iran when you’re injured, much less if you are the most wanted man in Iraq.

The Jawa Report linked with Religion of Peace Update: Remember the Alamo Edition
Speed of Thought linked with Zarqawi (apparently alive) is surrounded?