Death of Osama bin Laden

Death of Osama bin Laden. The death of Osama bin Laden, the founder and leader of the Islamic terrorist organization al-Qaeda, occurred on May 2, 2011, during a raid by United States Navy SEALs at his compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan. The operation was carried out by a team of 24 SEAL Team Six operatives, who were flown to the compound in Stealth helicopters. The mission was authorized by President of the United States Barack Obama, who had been briefed on the location of bin Laden by CIA Director Leon Panetta and National Security Adviser Tom Donilon.

Background

The background to the death of Osama bin Laden involves the September 11 attacks in 2001, which were planned and carried out by al-Qaeda operatives, including Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and Ramzi bin al-Shibh. The attacks led to the launch of the War on Terror by the United States, with the goal of capturing or killing bin Laden and dismantling al-Qaeda. The CIA and other intelligence agencies had been tracking bin Laden for years, following leads and gathering intelligence on his whereabouts, including information from Abu Faraj al-Libi and Abd al-Hadi al-Iraqi. In 2010, the CIA discovered that bin Laden was living in a compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan, which was owned by Mohammed Arshad, a Pakistani businessman with ties to al-Qaeda.

The Raid

The raid on the compound was carried out by a team of 24 SEAL Team Six operatives, who were flown to the compound in Stealth helicopters. The team was led by Commander Robert O'Neill, who had previously participated in the Battle of Ramadi and the Battle of Fallujah. The operatives were equipped with night vision devices and M4 carbines, and were supported by AH-64 Apache helicopters and MQ-9 Reaper drones. The raid began at 1:00 am local time, when the SEAL Team Six operatives breached the compound walls and entered the main building, where they encountered Ibrahim bin Laden, one of bin Laden's sons, and Amal Ahmed Abdul Fatah, one of his wives. The operatives then made their way to the third floor, where they found bin Laden, who was shot and killed by Robert O'Neill.

Aftermath

The aftermath of the raid saw the CIA and other intelligence agencies analyzing the intelligence gathered from the compound, including documents and computer files, which provided valuable insights into al-Qaeda's operations and plans, including information on Ayman al-Zawahiri and Anwar al-Awlaki. The Pakistani government was also informed of the raid, and Prime Minister of Pakistan Yousaf Raza Gillani issued a statement condemning the killing of bin Laden. The United States government also announced the death of bin Laden, with President Barack Obama delivering a televised address to the nation, in which he was joined by Vice President of the United States Joe Biden and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Reactions

The reactions to the death of Osama bin Laden were widespread and varied, with many world leaders, including Prime Minister of the United Kingdom David Cameron and President of France Nicolas Sarkozy, issuing statements congratulating the United States on the successful operation. The United Nations Security Council also issued a statement welcoming the news, and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon praised the United States for its efforts to bring bin Laden to justice. However, some Islamic extremist groups, including al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula and Taliban, condemned the killing of bin Laden and vowed to continue their jihad against the United States and its allies, including Afghanistan and Iraq.

Burial at Sea

The burial at sea of Osama bin Laden was carried out by the United States Navy on the USS Carl Vinson, a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier that was operating in the North Arabian Sea. The burial was conducted in accordance with Islamic tradition, with bin Laden's body washed and wrapped in a white shroud, and prayers recited by a Muslim Navy officer, Lieutenant Commander Abuhena Saifulislam. The body was then placed in a weighted bag and dropped into the sea, where it sank to the bottom, in an area with a depth of approximately 10,000 feet, near the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf. The Pentagon later released a statement confirming the burial, which was also acknowledged by White House Press Secretary Jay Carney and Department of Defense spokesperson George Little.