Ayman al-Zawahri (File photo)

Arabic broadcaster Al-Jazeera has aired a new video in which al-Qaida's deputy leader, Ayman al-Zawahri, says U.S. plans to reduce the number of troops in Iraq means victory for Islam.

On the tape, aired Friday, he calls on President Bush to confess that the United States has been defeated in Iraq and Afghanistan. This is an apparent reference to the recent remarks by U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld that the military will soon begin reducing its troop strength in Iraq.

The al-Qaida leader also says the United States will soon be defeated in Palestine, too.

The most recent videotape from al-Zawahri, aired by Al-Jazeera last October, called on Muslims to aid victims of the massive earthquake in Pakistan.