In addition, Allawi defended the U.S. military attack in Fallujah that killed 22 people. The U.S. said it was attempting to kill Abu Musab Zarqawi, the Jordanian man who has been blamed for leading the Iraqi resistance. The U.S. claimed it hit a safehouse and that close associates of Zarqawi died but a member of the US-backed Fallujah Brigade told USA Today that the house contained ordinary families with women, children and elders.