Early Life and Education of Osama bin Laden: A Complete Timeline
Discover the defining moments in the early life of Osama bin Laden. From birth to education, explore key events.
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 1957: Osama bin Laden's Birth
In March 1957, Osama bin Laden was born in Saudi Arabia. He would later become the founder and leader of al-Qaeda.
1967: Death of Mohammed bin Laden
In 1967, Osama bin Laden's father, Mohammed bin Laden, died in an airplane crash in Saudi Arabia.
1968: Attended Al-Thager Model School
From 1968, Osama bin Laden attended the elite Al-Thager Model School.
1976: Finished Attending Al-Thager Model School
Until 1976, Osama bin Laden attended the elite Al-Thager Model School.
1979: Joined the Mujahideen in Afghanistan
In 1979, Osama bin Laden joined the mujahideen fighting against the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.
1979: Possible Graduation with Degree in Civil Engineering
In 1979, some reports suggest Osama bin Laden earned a degree in civil engineering.
1981: Possible Graduation with Degree in Public Administration
In 1981, some reports suggest Osama bin Laden earned a degree in public administration.
1982: Israeli Invasion of Lebanon
Bin Laden stated that the events of 1982, specifically when America allowed the Israelis to invade Lebanon, influenced his decision to punish the unjust by destroying towers in America.
1987: Bin Laden participates in the Battle of Jaji
In 1987, Osama bin Laden participated in some combat activity against the Soviets, such as the Battle of Jaji. It was during this time that he became idolized by many Arabs.
1988: Death of Salem bin Laden
In 1988, Osama bin Laden's eldest half-brother, Salem bin Laden, was killed in an airplane accident near San Antonio, Texas.
February 1989: Bin Laden returns to Saudi Arabia as a hero of jihad
In February 1989, following the Soviet Union's withdrawal from Afghanistan, Osama bin Laden returned to Saudi Arabia as a hero of jihad.
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: Expulsion from Saudi Arabia
In 1991, Osama bin Laden was expelled from Saudi Arabia due to his views on pan-Islamism and anti-Americanism.
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.
April 1992: Bin Laden attempts to mediate in Afghanistan civil war
In March–April 1992, Osama bin Laden tried to play a pacifying role in the escalating civil war in Afghanistan, by urging warlord Gulbuddin Hekmatyar to join the other mujahideen leaders negotiating a coalition government instead of trying to conquer Kabul for himself.
1992: US, Saudi Arabia, and China end financial and weapons aid to Mujahideen
From 1979 to 1992, the U.S. (as part of CIA activities in Afghanistan, specifically Operation Cyclone), Saudi Arabia, and China provided between $6–12 billion worth of financial aid and weapons to tens of thousands of mujahideen through Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).
1993: Bin Laden and Assistant Granted Bosnian Citizenship
In 1993, it was reported that Bin Laden and his Tunisian assistant Mehrez Aodouni were granted citizenship and Bosnian passports by the government in Sarajevo. The Bosnian government initially denied this information.
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.
1995: Sudanese Officials Discuss Expelling Bin Laden
In late 1995, Sudanese officials discussed expelling Bin Laden with the Saudi government. The CIA prepared to apprehend him, but was denied authorization. The Saudis did not want Bin Laden, giving as their reason the revocation of his citizenship.
January 1996: CIA Launches Bin Laden Issue Station
In January 1996, the CIA launched the Bin Laden Issue Station, code-named "Alec Station", to track and carry out operations against his activities. U.S. intelligence monitored Bin Laden in Sudan, using operatives and signals intelligence.
February 1996: Sudan Offers to Expel Bin Laden to Saudi Arabia
In February 1996, Sudanese officials offered to expel Bin Laden to Saudi Arabia in secret meetings, asking the Saudis to pardon him. Saudi officials wanted Bin Laden expelled from Sudan but would not tolerate his presence in their country.
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.
August 1996: Bin Laden Issues Fatwa Against Americans
In August 1996, Bin Laden issued a fatwā titled "Declaration of War against the Americans Occupying the Land of the Two Holy Places", published by Al-Quds Al-Arabi. The fatwa referred to U.S. forces based in Saudi Arabia for controlling air space in Iraq.
June 1997: Confessions of Ties to Bin Laden
In June 1997, The New York Times reported that those arrested for the bombing of the Al Khobar building in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, confessed to serving with Bosnian Muslim forces and admitted to ties with Bin Laden.
November 1997: Bin Laden Allegedly Funds Luxor Massacre
In November 1997, it has been claimed that Bin Laden funded the Luxor massacre, which killed 62 civilians. Also in mid-1997, the Northern Alliance threatened to overrun Jalalabad, causing him to move his operations.
February 1998: Bin Laden Issues Fatwa Against the U.S.
On February 1998, Bin Laden, alongside others, issued another fatwā against the U.S., calling upon Muslims to attack the country and its allies. It was entitled "Declaration of the World Islamic Front for Jihad against the Jews and the Crusaders".
June 1998: Al-Qaeda Congress Organized
In June 1998, Bin Laden and al-Zawahiri organized an al-Qaeda congress.
June 1998: Bin Laden Indicted by U.S. Grand Jury
On 8 June 1998, Bin Laden was first indicted by a grand jury of the U.S. on charges of conspiracy to attack defense utilities of the U.S. and prosecutors further charged that Bin Laden was the head of the terrorist organization called al-Qaeda.
August 1998: U.S. Retaliates with Cruise Missile Strikes
In August 1998, in retaliation for the embassy bombings, U.S. President Bill Clinton ordered cruise missile strikes on Bin Laden-related targets in Sudan and Afghanistan.
August 1998: U.S. Launches Cruise Missiles at Bin Laden's Training Camps
On 20 August 1998, 66 cruise missiles launched by U.S. Navy ships in the Arabian Sea struck Bin Laden's training camps near Khost in Afghanistan, missing him by a few hours.
November 1998: Bin Laden Indicted in New York for Embassy Attacks
On 4 November 1998, Bin Laden was indicted by a Federal Grand Jury in New York on charges related to the 1998 embassy attacks. The Taliban refused to extradite him due to insufficient evidence and the standing of non-Muslim courts.
December 1998: CIA Reports Al-Qaeda Preparing Attacks in U.S.
In December 1998, the CIA reported to Clinton that al-Qaeda was preparing for attacks in the U.S., including the training of personnel to hijack aircraft.
1998: EIJ Members Arrested in Albania
In 1998, four members of EIJ were arrested in Albania and extradited to Egypt. The mujahideen fighters were organized by Islamic leaders in Western Europe allied to Bin Laden and al-Zawahiri.
June 1999: Bin Laden Placed on FBI's Ten Most Wanted List
On 7 June 1999, the FBI placed Bin Laden on its Ten Most Wanted list.
October 15, 1999: UN Designates Al-Qaeda as a Terrorist Organization
On October 15, 1999, the United Nations designated al-Qaeda as a terrorist organization through UN Security Council Resolution 1267. This resolution aimed to impose sanctions on individuals and entities associated with al-Qaeda.
December 1999: Arrest at Canada-U.S. Border Linked to Bin Laden
In December 1999, Ahmed Ressam was arrested at the Canada–United States border with bomb-making materials. Karim Said Atmani, who was identified as the document forger for a group of Algerians accused of plotting the bombings in the United States, was a former roommate of Ahmed Ressam. He was convicted of colluding with Bin Laden by a French court.
December 1999: Arrest in Jordan Linked to Plot to Blow Up Tourist Sites
In late December 1999, Khalil al-Deek was arrested in Jordan on suspicion of involvement in a plot to blow up tourist sites. A second man with Bosnian citizenship, Hamid Aich, lived in Canada at the same time as Atmani and worked for a charity associated with Bin Laden.
1999: Milošević Claims Al-Qaeda Aided KLA
In 1999, during his trial at the International Criminal Tribunal, Slobodan Milošević claimed that al-Qaeda had a presence in the Balkans and aided the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), using Albania as a launchpad for violence. This allegedly led to the 1999 NATO bombing of Yugoslavia.
1999: Reports of Bin Laden's Bosnian Citizenship Surface
In 1999, the press reported that Bin Laden and his Tunisian assistant Mehrez Aodouni were granted citizenship and Bosnian passports in 1993. The Bosnian government denied this information following the September 11 attacks.
January 2000: Islamic Militants Plan Triple Attack
In January 2000, it was revealed that Islamic militants headed by Bin Laden had planned a triple attack, including bombings in Jordan and an attack on a target within the United States. The plan was foiled by arrests and other preventative measures.
October 2001: Bosnia and Herzegovina Described as a Terrorist Safe Haven
In October 2001, a former U.S. State Department official described Bosnia and Herzegovina as a safe haven for terrorists, asserting that militant elements of the former Sarajevo government were protecting extremists, some with ties to Bin Laden.
2006: Alleged Imprisonment by ISI
In 2006, according to Seymour Hersh, Osama bin Laden was allegedly a prisoner of the ISI at the Abbottabad compound.
February 2010: Afghan President's Visit to Saudi Arabia
In February 2010, Afghan President Hamid Karzai visited Saudi Arabia to discuss Saudi involvement in reintegrating Taliban militants. A Saudi official stated that the kingdom would only participate if the Taliban severed ties with extremists and expelled Osama bin Laden.
June 2010: False Report of Bin Laden's Location
In June 2010, a Kuwaiti newspaper reported that Osama bin Laden was hiding in Sabzevar, Iran; the report later turned out to be false.
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.
April 2011: Obama Orders Operation Neptune Spear
In April 2011, Barack Obama ordered Operation Neptune Spear, which resulted in Osama bin Laden's death in May 2011.
April 2011: Bin Laden Traced to Abbottabad
In April 2011, U.S. intelligence traced Osama bin Laden to a three-story mansion in Abbottabad, Pakistan, about 160 km from the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.
