Zarqawi's consigliore is dead, according to a report out of CentCom.

Zarqawi's trusted aide, Bilal Mahmud Awad Shebah (also known as Abu Ubaydah) was actually killed a month and a half ago, and he seems to have been very important to the Iraq-based terror mastermind:

Detained members of al-Qaeda claim Abu Ubaydah served as an "executive secretary" for Zarqawi; met with Zarqawi frequently; served as a messenger and gatekeeper for Zarqawi; screened all messages and requests for meetings with Zarqawi; was one of Zarqawi's most trusted associates; provided Zarqawi with safe house locations; and used intimidation and death threats to gain the cooperation of the Iraqi people to support al Qaeda in Iraq terrorist activity.

Not a very good time to be a FAZ (friend of Zarqawi).

MORE: Zarqawi's operation isn't really very good at lying these days, either, according to Buzzurro.