By JERUSALEM POST STAFF1966:
Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, a Jordanian of Palestinian descent, is born.
1991:
Participates in the resistance to the Russian invasion of Afghanistan.
1999:
Involved in plans for a terrorist attack against the Radisson SAS Hotel in Amman, as well as against Americans, Israelis and Christians during the millennium celebrations. The attack is thwarted, and he escapes.
2000:
Moves to Afghanistan, where he sets up a training camp for Al-Qaida fighters. The camp specializes in chemical and biological weapons.
2001:
Jordan tries and sentences him in absentia to 15 years for involvement in terrorist operations within Jordan.
2001:
October
Flees to Iran after the Taliban loses control of Afghanistan. In Iran, he recruits Palestinians and Jordanians, who then move to Turkey with the intention of entering Israel and carrying out bombings there.
2002:
Travels to Iraq, where he loses a leg. Recovers in Baghdad. Establishes another base of operations.
Late summer
Travels to Lebanon to meet with leaders from Hizbullah and other armed groups.
October
Laurence Foley, a US diplomat in charge of the American Agency for International Development, is murdered in Iraq. Zarqawi is linked to the weapons used for the attack.
2003:
Returns to a training camp in Northern Iraq. Another terrorist at the same camp will go on to plan chemical attacks in Britain, France, Georgia, and Chechnya.
January
Several terrorists are arrested in Britain under the suspicion of planning to poison the army's food supply. Again, the terrorists are linked to Zarqawi.
February 5
US secretary of state Colin Powell addresses the United Nations Security Council. He presents information demonstrating the relationship between Zarqawi and Al-Qaida in Iraq.
2004:
Believed to have personally beheaded at least two American hostages, Nicholas Berg in April 2004 and Eugene Armstrong in September 2004. Grisly videos of the slayings are posted on the Internet, part of a revolutionary Web propaganda campaign that was key to al-Zarqawi's movement.
July
US sets $25 million bounty for him.
September
Beheads US hostage Eugene Armstrong, posts videotape of killing on Internet.
October
Vows fealty to bin Laden, changes name of group to "al-Qaida in Iraq."
2005:
February
Suicide bombing against Iraqi security recruits in Hillah kills 125. Claimed by al-Qaida in Iraq, it is single deadliest attack of insurgency.
November 9
Triple suicide bombing against hotels in Amman kills 60, mostly Sunnis. Attack draws criticism from fellow Islamic militants.
2006:
January 5
His fighters blamed for string of suicide bombings against Shi'ites in holy city of Karbala and police station north of Baghdad, killing at least 130.
June 7
Killed in US air strike north of Baghdad.
Compiled by Aaron Wenner and Torie Partridge from BBC and Al-Jazeera sources