Challenges Faced by Osama bin Laden: Obstacles and Turning Points
Life is full of challenges, and Osama bin Laden faced many. Discover key struggles and how they were overcome.
Osama bin Laden, a Saudi Arabian-born founder and leader of al-Qaeda, was a key figure in the rise of radical Islamic terrorism. He fought against the Soviet Union in Afghanistan and later opposed the United States' foreign policy in the Middle East. Bin Laden declared war on the U.S. in 1996 and masterminded numerous attacks, most notably the September 11 attacks in 2001. His actions led to the U.S.-led War on Terror, significantly reshaping global geopolitics and security measures.
March 1989: Bin Laden leads foreign fighters in Battle of Jalalabad
In March 1989, Osama bin Laden led 800 Arab foreign fighters during the unsuccessful Battle of Jalalabad.
1991: Bin Laden expelled from Saudi Arabia
In 1991, Osama bin Laden was expelled from Saudi Arabia by its government after repeatedly criticizing the Saudi alliance with the United States.
1991: Bin Laden put under house arrest for criticizing Saudi monarchy
In 1991, Osama bin Laden's continued criticism of the Saudi monarchy led them to put him under house arrest, under which he remained until he was ultimately forced to leave the country.
1994: Bin Laden stripped of Saudi citizenship and stipend
In 1994, King Fahd stripped Osama bin Laden of his Saudi citizenship and persuaded his family to cut off his $7 million a year stipend.
May 1996: Bin Laden Returns to Afghanistan
In May 1996, due to increasing pressure on Sudan, Bin Laden was permitted to leave for a country of his choice. He chose to return to Jalalabad, Afghanistan. The expulsion from Sudan weakened Bin Laden and his organization.
1998: Embassy Attacks
In 1998, Osama bin Laden was indicted along with others for capital crimes related to the embassy attacks.
1998: Indictment for the 1998 embassy attack
Osama bin Laden was among a group of 13 fugitive terrorists wanted for questioning about the 1998 attack.
June 1999: Bin Laden Added to FBI Ten Most Wanted Fugitives List
In June 1999, Osama bin Laden became the 456th person added to the FBI Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list following his indictment for capital crimes related to the 1998 embassy attacks.
1999: CIA Plan to Capture or Kill Bin Laden Aborted
In 1999, a CIA plan, in collaboration with Pakistani military intelligence, to capture or kill Bin Laden in Afghanistan was aborted due to the 1999 Pakistani coup d'état.
2000: Failed Assassination Attempt on Bin Laden
In 2000, foreign operatives working for the CIA launched a rocket-propelled grenade at a convoy in Afghanistan in which Bin Laden was traveling, hitting one of the vehicles, but Bin Laden was not in that vehicle.
August 2001: Intelligence Report: Bin Laden Determined to Strike in U.S.
On August 6, 2001, President George W. Bush received an intelligence report titled "Bin Laden Determined to Strike in U.S."
September 2001: September 11 Attacks
On September 11, 2001, the U.S. was attacked by al-Qaeda, who used four commercial airplanes as missiles against targets including the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, resulting in at least 2,750 deaths. Communications intercepted by the National Security Agency and German intelligence agencies pointed to Bin Laden's responsibility.
October 2001: Bombing of Afghanistan
In October 2001, the bombing of Afghanistan commenced after attempts at assassination and requests for Bin Laden's extradition from the Taliban had failed. The US government was trying to get Bin Laden extradited following his 1998 indictment in the embassy attacks.
October 2001: Bin Laden Listed on FBI Most Wanted Terrorists List
On October 10, 2001, Osama bin Laden appeared on the initial list of the top 22 FBI Most Wanted Terrorists, based on the indictment for the 1998 embassy attack.
2001: Bin Laden Believed to be Hiding in Tora Bora
In late 2001, the US government concluded that Bin Laden was present during the Battle of Tora Bora, Afghanistan. Failure to commit enough U.S. ground troops led to his escape and was considered a grave failure.
2004: Bin Laden speaks of "bleeding America to the point of bankruptcy"
In 2004, Osama bin Laden, in a tape broadcast by Al Jazeera, discussed al-Qaeda's strategy of "bleeding America to the point of bankruptcy" by luring it into long wars of attrition in Muslim countries.
December 2005: Letter Indicates Bin Laden's Location in Waziristan
On December 11, 2005, a letter from Atiyah Abd al-Rahman to Abu Musab al-Zarqawi indicated that Bin Laden and the al-Qaeda leadership were based in the Waziristan region of Pakistan at the time.
2005: CIA Unit Dedicated to Capturing Bin Laden Shut Down
In late 2005, the CIA unit composed of special operations paramilitary forces dedicated to capturing Bin Laden was shut down.
July 2007: Senate Vote to Double Reward for Bin Laden's Capture or Death
On July 13, 2007, the Senate voted to double the reward for information leading to Bin Laden's capture or death to $50 million, though the amount was never changed.
August 2007: Raid in Tora Bora Fails to Find Bin Laden
Between August 14 and 16, 2007, U.S. and Afghanistan forces raided mountain caves in Tora Bora after receiving intelligence of an al-Qaeda meeting, but did not find Bin Laden or al-Zawahiri.
October 2008: Obama Pledges to Kill Bin Laden
On October 7, 2008, during the second debate of the U.S. presidential election, Barack Obama pledged, "We will kill Bin Laden. We will crush al-Qaeda. That has to be our biggest national security priority."
February 2009: Taliban Detainee Claims Contact Saw Bin Laden in Afghanistan
In early December 2009, a Taliban detainee in Pakistan said he had information that Bin Laden was in Afghanistan that year. He said that in January or February 2009, he met a trusted contact who had seen Bin Laden in Afghanistan about 15 to 20 days earlier.
December 2009: Conflicting Reports on Bin Laden's Whereabouts
In early December 2009, conflicting reports emerged regarding Bin Laden's whereabouts, with a Taliban detainee claiming he was in Afghanistan, while U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates stated the U.S. had no reliable information on his location in years.
2010: Bin Laden's Directives to Followers
In 2010, Osama bin Laden criticized followers for misinterpreting Islamic doctrine to justify massacres of Muslim civilians. He condemned Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan for civilian casualties, advocated for a jihadist code of conduct, urged a truce in Yemen, advised al-Shabab to pursue economic development in Somalia, and instructed followers to focus on education and persuasion.
