Killing of Osama bin Laden facts for kids
| Part of the war on terror | |
Osama bin Laden's compound
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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
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| Date | May 2, 2011; 13 years ago |
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| Location | Waziristan Haveli, Bilal Town, Abbottabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan |
| Also known as | Operation Neptune Spear |
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| Outcome | Osama bin Laden's body buried in the North Arabian Sea |
| Deaths |
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On May 2, 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). 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. 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. The raid took 40 minutes, and bin Laden was killed shortly before 1:00 a.m. PKT (20:00 UTC, May 1). 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.
Al-Qaeda confirmed bin Laden's death on May 6 through posts made on militant websites and vowed to avenge his killing. 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. The raid was supported by over 90 percent of the American public, was welcomed by the United Nations, NATO, the European Union, and a large number of governments, but was condemned by others, including two-thirds of the Pakistani public.
Images for kids
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CIA aerial photo of the compound
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Diagram of Osama bin Laden's hideout, showing the high concrete walls that surrounded the compound
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Situation Room: The U.S. national security team, with President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden (left), and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, gathered in the White House Situation Room to monitor the progress of the operation
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Osama bin Laden's body was confirmed by President Obama in the Situation Room
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An ABC News digital board in Times Square after Bin Laden's death
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Americans in front of The White House celebrating Osama bin Laden's death
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Website of the Federal Bureau of Investigation listing bin Laden as deceased on the Most Wanted List on May 3, 2011
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Matt Bissonnette in March 2001
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View of Abbottabad, Pakistan (2011)
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Air strikes on Tora Bora in 2001
