Looking composed in black clothes and green combat webbing, the Jordanian head of al-Qaeda in Iraq, was seen in his desert hideout posing with a captured US machinegun and planning tactics with followers, whose faces were hidden by black masks. “America has realised today that its tanks, armies and Shia agents will not be able to end the battle with the Mujahidin [fighters],” he said, referring to the newly-formed Government in Baghdad.

He encouraged his fighters in the video, dated April 21: “Your Mujahidin sons were able to confront the most ferocious of crusader campaigns on a Muslim state. They have stood in the face of this onslaught for three years. When the crusader enemy entered Iraq, he intended to control the Islamic nation and supported the Zionist state.”

The video was believed to be the first showing of his face. Last month there was speculation that the 39-year-old, once the most powerful insurgent commander in Iraq, had been sidelined by the new Mujahidin Shura Council (Consultative Council of Holy Warriors), an umbrella group, which released the video on the internet.

Al-Zarqawi caused revulsion across the Islamic world when his suicide bombers attacked Shia Muslim mosques, killing hundreds of worshippers, and hotels in Amman, killing mainly Jordanians and Palestinians.

He was also berated by al-Qaeda’s leadership for alienating support by beheading his victims. He has been identified as the hooded executioner who beheaded Nicholas Berg and Ken Bigley two years ago.

Times Recommends

• Experts baffled by vanishing sea lions
• CIA caught in a dirty and secretive war
• Double life of Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab