Killing of Osama bin Laden

Killing of Osama bin Laden
Part of the war on terror
Osama bin Laden's compound
Map of Operation Neptune Spear showing the locations of U.S. bases in Afghanistan and the approximate flight path to and from the compound in Pakistan
DateMay 2, 2011; 12 years ago
LocationWaziristan Haveli, Bilal Town, Abbottabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
Also known asOperation Neptune Spear
Participants
OutcomeOsama bin Laden's body buried in the North Arabian Sea
Deaths

On May 2,[a] 2011, Osama bin Laden, the founder and first leader of the Islamist militant group al-Qaeda, was shot and killed at his compound in the Pakistani city of Abbottabad by United States Navy SEALs of SEAL Team Six (also known as DEVGRU).[1] The operation, code-named Operation Neptune Spear, was carried out in a CIA-led mission, 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), also known as the "Night Stalkers," and the CIA's Special Activities Division, which heavily recruits from former JSOC Special Mission Units.[2][3] The success of the operation ended a nearly decade-long manhunt for bin Laden, who was accused of masterminding the September 11 attacks on the United States.

The raid, approved by U.S. President Barack Obama and involving two dozen Navy SEALs in two Black Hawk helicopters, was launched from about 120 miles (190 km) away in Afghanistan, where U.S. forces were stationed.[4][5] The raid took 40 minutes, and bin Laden was killed shortly before 1:00 a.m. PKT[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, U.S. forces returned to Afghanistan with bin Laden's body 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 on May 6 through posts made on militant websites and vowed to avenge his killing.[10] Other Pakistani militant groups, including the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan, also vowed retaliation against the U.S.; and against Pakistan, for not preventing the operation.[11] The raid was supported by over 90 percent of the American public,[12][13] was welcomed by the United Nations, NATO, the European Union, and a large number of governments,[14] but was condemned by others, including two-thirds of the Pakistani public.[15] Legal and ethical aspects of the killing, such as the failure to capture him alive despite him being unarmed, were questioned by organizations like Amnesty International.[16] Also controversial was the decision not to publish any photographic or DNA evidence of bin Laden's death.[17] There was also controversy in Pakistan regarding how the country's defenses were breached, and how the Air Force failed to detect the American aircraft.[18]

After the killing, Pakistani Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani formed a commission led by Senior Justice Javed Iqbal to investigate the circumstances of the attack.[19] The resulting Abbottabad Commission Report revealed the "collective failure" of Pakistani state military and intelligence authorities that enabled bin Laden to hide in Pakistan for nine years and was leaked to Al Jazeera on July 8, 2013.[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.

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