Reactions to the killing of Osama bin Laden

Americans celebrating in front of the White House
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Memorial at the World Trade Center site on May 3, 2011, when the death of Osama bin Laden was announced
Americans celebrating with the Gadsden flag, early morning, May 2, 2011, hours after President Obama announced Osama bin Laden's death

On May 2, 2011, United States President Barack Obama confirmed that al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden had been killed in his compound in Abbottabad, northeastern Pakistan. Bin Laden's death was welcomed by many as a positive and significant turning point in the fight against al-Qaeda and related groups. Those who welcomed it included the United Nations, European Union, NATO, and some nations in Asia, Africa, Oceania, South America, and the Middle East, including Yemen, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, India, Israel, Indonesia, Somalia, the Philippines, Turkey, Iraq, Australia, Argentina, and the rebel Libyan Republic.[1]

His killing was condemned by the Hamas administration of the Gaza Strip, the Muslim Brotherhood,[2] and the Taliban. Iran and the Muslim Brotherhood opined that bin Laden's death removed "the last excuse" for western forces to remain in the Middle East, and urged their withdrawal. The monitoring of Jihadist websites after bin Laden's death, by intelligence agency SITE, revealed encouragement of attacks in retaliation for his killing.[3]

  1. ^ "Death of Bin Laden: Live report". Agence France-Presse. May 2, 2011. Archived from the original on January 31, 2013. Retrieved May 2, 2011.
  2. ^ MacDonald, Alistair; Bradley, Matt (May 2, 2011). "World Cheers Bin Laden Killing, Prepares for Strikes". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved May 2, 2011.
  3. ^ "Osama bin Laden's followers may strike in Canada". May 2, 2011. Archived from the original on 2011-05-06.