Ding, dong, Zarqawi is dead!

Iraqi prime minister reported this morning that Abu Musab al-Zarqawi is dead! Unlike the many previous possible Zarqawi deaths, this one is said to be confirmed by matching scars and fingerprints.

Fox
Press reaction in the Middle East to the news that U.S. warplanes had killed Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the leader of Al Qaeda in Iraq, was swift and restrained.

Iraqi TV broke the story, quoting Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki as saying that Zarqawi had been killed. The news was immediately picked up at 6:50 GMT by the pan-Arab TV network al-Jazeera.

Red banners with urgent tags immediately appeared on many Arab TV stations, as the region's major stations broke into regular programming to announce Zarqawi’s death.

Islamic extremist web sites also were quick to carry the news – and in their case, lament it.

A note posted on one web site – known as a clearinghouse for Al Qaeda in Iraq statements – lamented, "We hope this news is not true."

Omar, at Iraq the Model, seems, um... happy about Zarqawi's death. He sums up his feeling in all caps: "CONGRATULATIONS TO IRAQ, CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WHOLE WORLD ON THIS VICTORY." He also has some information on Hibhib, the town where Zarqawi met his end.

Update: Captain Ed has a very thorough roundup.

Update: Pajamas Media also has good roundup and a podcast featuring Omar from Iraq The Model.

Update: Atrios can barely manage to be happy Zarqawi is dead. KOS manages to "cheer."

Update: Here is why it is a good thing Zarqawi is dead.