Abu Musab al-Zarqawi was a Jordanian militant who became known for his role in the Iraq War. He founded the group al-Qaeda in Iraq, which later evolved into ISIS. Zarqawi was notorious for his brutal tactics, including beheadings and bombings, aimed at instilling fear and gaining attention for his cause. Born in 1966, Zarqawi initially became involved in extremist activities in the 1980s. He was captured and imprisoned in Jordan but later escaped. His activities in Iraq after the 2003 invasion led to his rise as a prominent figure in global terrorism until his death in a U.S. airstrike in 2006.