The speaker, who identified himself as the Jordanian militant, said insurgents were crushing the morale of "tyrant" America and called on them to be patient in their street battles because God had promised victory. The tape, posted on an Islamist Web site on Thursday, was not dated. The speaker mentioned Eid but it was not clear if he was referring to Eid al-Adha which started on Thursday or Eid al-Fitr which took place in November after U.S. and Iraqi forces launched an assault against insurgents in Falluja.
"The fruits of jihad (holy war) come after much patience and a lengthy stay in the battlefield ... which could last months and years," he said. "In the fight against the arrogant American tyrant who carries the flag of the cross, we find that despite its military might it is being crushed emotionally and morally.
"Our battle with the enemy is a battle of streets and towns and has many tactical, defensive and offensive methods. Fierce wars are not decided in days or weeks," he said, adding that U.S. forces had not achieved victory by entering Falluja.
Washington has put a $25 million price on Zarqawi's head. An audio tape purportedly from al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden has backed Zarqawi as the network's leader in Iraq.
The speaker, addressing bin Laden, pledged to remain on the path of jihad. He said the assault on the Sunni Muslim city of Falluja had only strengthened the jihadists and exposed the "apostate" Iraqi government and "ugly face of the rejectionists (Shi'ites)" and their leader Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani.
He said two senior non-Iraqi members of Al Qaeda Organization of Holy War in Iraq, identified as Omar Hadeed and Abu Hareth Mohammed Jassem al-Isawi, died in Falluja after they helped kill U.S. troops like "moles and flies."
The U.S. military had said that some of Zarqawi's associates were killed or captured in raids on Falluja, which U.S. and Iraqi officials said was a haven for Zarqawi's group. Guerrillas trying to topple Iraq's U.S.-backed interim government have launched a series of attacks in the runup to Jan. 30 parliamentary elections. Zarqawi's group has claimed some of the bloodiest suicide attacks and hostage beheadings.