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).Gal Perl Finkel, "A New Strategy Against  ISIS", The Jerusalem Post, March 7, 2017.

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 raidGal Perl Finkel, Back to the ground?, Israel Hayom, November 8, 2015. 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.Pakistanis Criticize U.S. Action That Killed Osama Bin Laden Gallup. May 18, 2011,

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.

 Reactions 

 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.

References

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.

Category:2011 deaths
Category:2011 in Asia
Category:2010s in Pakistan
Category:Abbottabad
Category:Barack Obama
Killing

Category:May 2011 events
Category:Assassinations
Category:2010s in military history