page_title: Manhunt for Osama bin Laden
section_title: Location and death of Osama bin Laden
hierarchical_section_title: Manhunt for Osama bin Laden / Location and death of Osama bin Laden
caption_attribution_description: English: A view of Abbottabad, Pakistan, from Shimla HillFrançais&#160;: Une vue d'Abbottabad, Pakistan, depuis la colline de Shimla
context_page_description: Osama bin Laden, the founder and former leader of al-Qaeda, went into hiding following the start of the War in Afghanistan in order to avoid capture by the United States and/or its allies for his role in the September 11, 2001 attacks, and having been on the FBI Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list since 1999. After evading capture at the Battle of Tora Bora in December 2001, his whereabouts became unclear, and various rumours about his health, continued role in al-Qaeda, and location were circulated. Bin Laden also released several video and audio recordings during this time.
  In the decade following his disappearance, there were many attempts made by the United States government to locate bin Laden. In December, 2009, U.S. Army General Stanley McChrystal said that bin Laden would need to be "captured or killed" in order for the U.S. to "finally defeat al-Qaeda." According to the U.S. government's official account of the operation, in August 2010 the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency located a compound in Abbottabad in Pakistan and identified it as the likely location of bin Laden thanks to the efforts of Officer Jay McPherson.
caption: View of Abbottabad, Pakistan
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