Killing of Osama bin Laden

Killing of Osama bin Laden
Part of the American manhunt for Osama bin Laden
Osama bin Laden's compound in Abbottabad, 4 May 2011
Map of the approximate flight path of the Afghanistan-based American operatives to and from the compound in Pakistan
DateMay 2, 2011; 13 years ago (2011-05-02)
LocationBilal Town, Abbottabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
MotiveRetaliation for the September 11 attacks in 2001
Organized by United States
Participants
List:
OutcomeDeath of Osama bin Laden shortly before 1:00 a.m. PKT
Deaths
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1st General Emir of al-Qaeda
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On May 2,[a] 2011, the United States conducted Operation Neptune Spear, in which SEAL Team Six shot and killed Osama bin Laden at his "Waziristan Haveli" in Abbottabad, Pakistan.[1] Bin Laden, who founded al-Qaeda and masterminded the September 11 attacks, had been the subject of a United States military manhunt since the beginning of the War in Afghanistan, but escaped to Pakistan—allegedly with Pakistani support—during or after the Battle of Tora Bora in December 2001. The mission was part of an effort led by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), with the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) coordinating the Special Mission Units involved in the raid. In addition to SEAL Team Six, participating units under JSOC included the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) and the CIA's Special Activities Division, which recruits heavily from among former JSOC Special Mission Units.[2][3]

Approved by American president Barack Obama and involving two dozen Navy SEALs in two Black Hawks, Operation Neptune Spear was launched from about 120 miles (190 km) away, near the Afghan city of Jalalabad.[4][5] The raid took 40 minutes, and bin Laden was killed shortly before 1:00 a.m. Pakistan Standard Time[6][7] (20:00 UTC, May 1).[8] Three other men, including one of bin Laden's sons, and a woman in the compound were also killed. After the raid, the operatives returned to Afghanistan with bin Laden's corpse for identification and then flew over 850 miles (1,370 km) to the Arabian Sea, where he was buried in accordance with Islamic tradition.[9]

Al-Qaeda confirmed bin Laden's death through posts made on militant websites on May 6, and vowed to avenge his killing.[10] Additionally, Pakistani militant organizations, including the Tehrik-i-Taliban, vowed retaliation against the United States and against Pakistan for failing to preventing the American raid.[11] The raid, which was supported by over 90% of the American public,[12][13] was also welcomed by the United Nations, the European Union, and NATO, as well as a large number of international organizations and governments.[14] However, it was condemned by two-thirds of the Pakistani public.[15] Legal and ethical aspects of the killing, such as the failure to capture him alive in spite of him being unarmed, were questioned by Amnesty International.[16] Also controversial was the decision to classify any photographic or DNA evidence of bin Laden's death.[17] There was widespread discontent among Pakistanis with regard to how effectively the country's defences were breached by the United States, and how the Pakistan Air Force failed to detect and intercept any incoming American aircraft.[18]

After the killing of bin Laden, Pakistani prime minister Yusuf Raza Gilani formed a commission led by senior justice Javed Iqbal to investigate the circumstances of the assault.[19] The resulting Abbottabad Commission Report reported that the "collective failure" of Pakistan's military and intelligence agencies had enabled bin Laden to hide in the country for nine years; it was classified by the Pakistani government, but on July 8, 2013, leaked to and published by Al Jazeera Media Network.[20]


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  1. ^ Gal Perl Finkel, "A New Strategy Against ISIS", The Jerusalem Post, March 7, 2017.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference deadlyraid was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference CIAled was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference aftermath was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ "Osama Bin Laden's death: How it happened". BBC News. September 10, 2012.
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference waposurveil was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Cooper, Helene (May 1, 2011). "Obama Announces Killing of Osama bin Laden". The New York Times. Archived from the original on May 2, 2011. Retrieved May 1, 2011.
  8. ^ "Death of Osama bin Laden Fast Facts". CNN. April 27, 2021. Retrieved February 25, 2022.
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference ref-5 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ Cite error: The named reference revenge was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  11. ^ Varun Vira and Anthony Cordesman, "Pakistan: Violence versus Stability", Center for Strategic and International Studies, July 25, 2011.
  12. ^ "Public 'Relieved' By bin Laden's Death, Obama's Job Approval Rises". Pew Research Center. 2011. Archived from the original on May 9, 2011. Retrieved May 19, 2011.
  13. ^ Newport, Frank (2011). "Americans Back Bin Laden Mission; Credit Military, CIA Most". Gallup. Retrieved May 19, 2011.
  14. ^ Cite error: The named reference ref-16 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  15. ^ Pakistanis Criticize U.S. Action That Killed Osama Bin Laden Gallup. May 18, 2011,
  16. ^ "Questions around operation against Osama bin Laden". Amnesty International. May 4, 2011. Retrieved May 6, 2011.
  17. ^ Lardner, Richard (September 27, 2011). "US tells court bin Laden photos must stay secret". Associated Press.
  18. ^ "Gone In 40 Minutes – What Pakistani Forces Did During Bin Laden Raid". Rferl.org. May 6, 2011. Retrieved February 25, 2022.
  19. ^ Staff (September 12, 2012). "Abbottabad Commission given 30 days to submit report". Daily Times. Pakistan. Retrieved June 28, 2013.
  20. ^ Hashim, Asad (July 8, 2013). "Leaked report shows Bin Laden's 'hidden life'". Al Jazeera English. Retrieved July 8, 2013.