Killing of Osama bin Laden

Osama bin Laden, the founder and first leader of the Islamist group al-Qaeda, was killed in Pakistan on May 2, 2011 shortly after 1:00 am PKT (20:00 UTC, May 1) by United States Navy SEALs of the U.S. Naval Special Warfare Development Group (also known as DEVGRU or SEAL Team Six).

## The raid

The operation, code-named **Operation Neptune Spear**, was carried out in a CIA-led operation with Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC). The operation ended a nearly 10-year search for bin Laden, following his role in the September 11 attacks on the United States.

The raid on bin Laden's compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan was launched from Afghanistan. U.S. military officials said that after the raid U.S. forces took bin Laden's body to Afghanistan for identification, then buried him at sea within 24 hours of his death in accordance with Islamic tradition.

The SEALs encountered the residents in the compound's guest house, in its main building on the first floor where two adult males lived, and on the second and third floors where bin Laden lived with his family.

The second and third floors were the last section of the compound to be cleared. There were reportedly "small knots of children ... on every level, including the balcony of bin Laden's room".

bin Laden was killed in the raid and initial versions said three other men and a woman were killed as well: bin Laden's adult son Khalid, bin Laden's courier Abu Ahmed al-Kuwaiti, al-Kuwaiti's brother Abrar, and Abrar's wife Bushra.

Al-Qaeda confirmed the death on May 6 with posts made on militant websites, vowing to avenge the killing.

## Approval

The raid was supported by over 90% of the American public, United Nations, NATO, the European Union, along with a large number of governments, but was criticized by China, Russia, Turkey and two-thirds of the Pakistani public.

Also controversial was the decision not to release any photographic or DNA evidence of bin Laden's death to the public.

## Aftermath

In the aftermath of the killing, Pakistani Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani created a commission under Senior Justice Javed Iqbal. The resulting Abbottabad Commission Report, which revealed Pakistani state military and intelligence authorities’ “collective failure” that enabled bin Laden to hide in Pakistan for nine years.

#### Hamas

Hamas denounced the murder of Osama bin Laden and praised him by calling him a holy warrior. The former leader of Hamas, Ismail Haniyeh stated that this was a continuation of the U.S policy of oppression.

## Other websites

- Closing in on bin Laden — _The Washington Post_ collection of maps, diagrams, and other images
- Phillips, Macon. "Osama Bin Laden Dead ." The White House Blog. May 2, 2011.
- "Photo Gallery May 1, 2011." The White House
- Garamone, Jim. "Obama Declares 'Justice Has Been Done'." American Forces Press Service, U.S. Department of Defense.
- Garamone, Jim. "Intelligence, Operations Team Up for bin Laden Kill." American Forces Press Service, U.S. Department of Defense.
- "Office of the Spokesperson Press Release Death of Osama bin Ladin." Embassy of Pakistan in Washington. May 2, 2011.

## Infobox (historical event)

- **event name**: Assassination of Osama bin Laden
- **imagesize**: 260px
- **image caption**: Osama bin Laden's compound
- **aka**: Operation Neptune Spear
- **type**: Killing
- **participants**: Central Intelligence Agency Special Activities DivisionU.S. Naval Special Warfare Development Group160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne)Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 4
- **location**: Osama bin Laden's compound in Abbottabad, Osama bin Laden's compound in Bilal Town, Abbottabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
- **deaths**: Osama bin Laden (54) Bin Laden family#Osama bin Laden's children, Khalid bin Laden (23) Abu Ahmed al-Kuwaiti (33) Abu Ahmed al-Kuwaiti's brother Abrar (30) Bushra, Abrar's wife (age unknown)
- **result**: Osama bin Laden's body burial at sea, buried in the North Arabian Sea
- **image**: File:Osama bin Laden compound1.jpg