History of Osama bin Laden in Timeline
Osama bin Laden, a Saudi-born Islamist, founded al-Qaeda and served as its first emir. He fought against the Soviet Union in Afghanistan and supported Bosnian fighters in the Yugoslav Wars. He vehemently opposed U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East, declaring war against the U.S. in 1996. Bin Laden orchestrated and supervised the September 11 attacks in 2001, targeting U.S. assets. His actions and ideologies had a significant impact on global politics and security.
March 1957: Osama bin Laden's Birth
In March 1957, Osama bin Laden was born in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to Muhammad bin Ladin and Hamida al-Attas.
1967: Death of Mohammed bin Laden
In 1967, Bin Laden's father, Mohammed bin Laden, died in an airplane crash in Saudi Arabia.
1968: Attended Al-Thager Model School
From 1968, Bin Laden attended the elite Al-Thager Model School.
1974: Married Najwa Ghanem
In 1974, at age 17, Bin Laden married Najwa Ghanem at Latakia, Syria.
1976: Finished Attending Al-Thager Model School
Until 1976, Bin Laden attended the elite Al-Thager Model School.
1979: Joins the Mujahideen in Afghanistan
In 1979, Bin Laden joined the mujahideen fighting against the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.
1979: Studied at King Abdulaziz University
In 1979, Bin Laden may have earned a degree in civil engineering at King Abdulaziz University.
1980: Bin Laden acted as a liaison between the Saudi General Intelligence Presidency (GIP) and Afghan warlords
Beginning in early 1980, Osama Bin Laden acted as a liaison between the Saudi General Intelligence Presidency (GIP) and Afghan warlords.
1981: Studied at King Abdulaziz University
In 1981, Bin Laden may have earned a degree in public administration at King Abdulaziz University.
1983: Married Khadijah Sharif
In 1983, Bin Laden married Khadijah Sharif.
1984: Co-founded Maktab al-Khidamat
In 1984, Bin Laden co-founded Maktab al-Khidamat, which recruited foreign mujahideen into the war.
1984: Bin Laden and Azzam Establish Maktab al-Khidamat
In 1984, Osama bin Laden and Azzam established Maktab al-Khidamat to funnel money, arms, and fighters into Afghanistan, funded by Bin Laden's family fortune.
1986: Bin Laden Sets Up Base in Eastern Afghanistan
Between 1986 and 1987, Osama bin Laden established a base in eastern Afghanistan for his Arab soldiers, marking an increase in his direct involvement in the conflict.
1987: Bin Laden Participates in Battle of Jaji
In 1987, Osama bin Laden participated in the Battle of Jaji against the Soviets, which was later lionized in the Arab press, boosting his image.
May 1988: Massacre of Shias in Gilgit Allegedly Led by Bin Laden
In May 1988, large numbers of Shias from in and around Gilgit, Pakistan were killed in a massacre. It is alleged that the Pakistan Army induced Osama bin Laden to lead an armed group of Sunni tribals to suppress the revolt.
August 1988: Bin Laden Splits from Maktab al-Khidamat, Establishes al-Qaeda
In August 1988, Osama bin Laden split from Maktab al-Khidamat and established al-Qaeda with the goal to lift the word of God, to make his religion victorious.
August 1988: Meeting Suggests al-Qaeda Was a Formal Group
Research suggests that al-Qaeda was formed at an August 11, 1988, meeting between several senior leaders of Egyptian Islamic Jihad (EIJ), Azzam, and Bin Laden, where it was agreed to join Bin Laden's money with the expertise of the EIJ and take up the jihadist cause elsewhere after the Soviets withdrew from Afghanistan.
1988: Founded al-Qaeda
In 1988, Bin Laden founded al-Qaeda for worldwide jihad.
1988: Death of Salem bin Laden
In 1988, Bin Laden's eldest half-brother, Salem bin Laden, was killed in an airplane crash near San Antonio, Texas.
February 1989: Bin Laden Returns to Saudi Arabia as a Hero
In February 1989, following the Soviet Union's withdrawal from Afghanistan, Osama bin Laden returned to Saudi Arabia as a hero of jihad.
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, suffering massive casualties.
August 1990: Bin Laden Offers to Defend Saudi Arabia Against Iraq
In August 1990, after the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, Osama bin Laden met with King Fahd and offered to defend Saudi Arabia with his Arab legion, but was rebuffed in favor of U.S. military assistance.
November 1990: FBI Raids Home of Al-Qaeda Associate, Uncovers Terrorist Plots
On 8 November 1990, the FBI raided the New Jersey home of El Sayyid Nosair, an associate of al-Qaeda operative Ali Mohamed and discovered evidence of terrorist plots.
1990: Bin Laden Funds Afghan Coup Attempt
In 1990, Osama bin Laden funded the Afghan coup d'état attempt led by General Shahnawaz Tanai and lobbied the Parliament of Pakistan to carry out an unsuccessful motion of no confidence against Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.
1991: Expulsion from Saudi Arabia
In 1991, Bin Laden's views on pan-Islamism and anti-Americanism resulted in his expulsion from Saudi Arabia.
1991: Bin Laden Denounces Saudi Dependence on U.S. Forces
In 1991, Osama bin Laden publicly denounced Saudi dependence on the U.S. forces, which led to him being placed under house arrest and eventually forced to leave the country.
1991: Bin Laden Expelled from Saudi Arabia
In 1991, Osama bin Laden was expelled from Saudi Arabia for criticizing the Saudi alliance with the United States.
April 1992: Bin Laden Tries to Mediate in Afghan Civil War
In March–April 1992, Osama bin Laden tried to play a pacifying role in the escalating civil war in Afghanistan, urging warlord Gulbuddin Hekmatyar to join the other mujahideen leaders negotiating a coalition government.
December 1992: Bombing of the Gold Mihor Hotel in Aden
The first bombing attack believed to involve Osama bin Laden was the 29 December 1992, bombing of the Gold Mihor Hotel in Aden, which resulted in two fatalities.
1992: US provides billions in aid to Mujahideen
From 1979 to 1992, the U.S., 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).
1992: Al-Qaeda Assists Jihadis in Algeria, Egypt, and Afghanistan
In the 1990s, Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda assisted jihadis financially, and sometimes militarily, in Algeria, Egypt, and Afghanistan. In 1992 or 1993, Bin Laden sent an emissary with $40,000 to Algeria to aid the Islamists and urge war rather than negotiation with the government.
1993: Nosair convicted in connection to the 1993 World Trade Center bombing
El Sayyid Nosair was eventually convicted in connection to the 1993 World Trade Center bombing and, years later, admitted guilt for the murder of Rabbi Meir Kahane in New York City on 5 November 1990.
1993: Reported citizenship and Bosnian passports
In 1999, the press reported that Bin Laden and his Tunisian assistant Mehrez Aodouni were granted citizenship and Bosnian passports in 1993 by the government in Sarajevo. Following the September 11 attacks, the Bosnian government denied this information, but it was later found that Aodouni possessed the Bosnian passport when he was arrested in Turkey.
1993: Al-Qaeda Assists Jihadis in Algeria, Egypt, and Afghanistan
In the 1990s, Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda assisted jihadis financially, and sometimes militarily, in Algeria, Egypt, and Afghanistan. In 1992 or 1993, Bin Laden sent an emissary with $40,000 to Algeria to aid the Islamists and urge war rather than negotiation with the government.
1994: Stripped of Saudi citizenship
In 1994, King Fahd of Saudi Arabia stripped Bin Laden of his Saudi citizenship and persuaded his family to cut off his $7 million a year stipend due to Bin Laden's continued criticism of the King.
1995: EIJ assassination attempt on Hosni Mubarak
In 1995, the EIJ, closely linked with Bin Laden and forming the core of al-Qaeda, attempted to assassinate Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. The attempt failed, leading to Sudan expelling the EIJ and al-Qaeda developing its justification for killing innocent people.
1995: Sudan offered to expel Bin Laden
In late 1995, Sudanese officials discussed expelling Bin Laden with the Saudi government. The US Ambassador encouraged this, but Saudis did not want Bin Laden, citing the revocation of his citizenship. Sudan allegedly offered to hand Bin Laden over to the United States, though no credible evidence supports this.
January 1996: CIA launched 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 Bin Laden's activities. U.S. intelligence monitored Bin Laden in Sudan, using operatives, safe houses, and signals intelligence.
February 1996: Sudan offered to expel Bin Laden to Saudi Arabia
In February 1996, Sudanese officials began approaching officials from the United States and other governments to ease foreign pressure. Sudan secretly offered to expel Bin Laden to Saudi Arabia, asking the Saudis to pardon him. However, Saudi officials did not want Bin Laden in their country.
May 1996: Bin Laden returned to Afghanistan
On 18 May 1996, Bin Laden was permitted to leave Sudan for a country of his choice due to increasing pressure. He returned to Jalalabad, Afghanistan, on a chartered flight where he forged a close relationship with Mullah Omar. He lost between $20 million and $300 million after the government seized his construction equipment, and he was forced to liquidate his businesses, land, and even his horses.
August 1996: Declared Holy War Against the U.S.
In August 1996, Bin Laden declared a fatwā declaring holy war against the U.S.
August 1996: Bin Laden issued "Declaration of War against the Americans Occupying the Land of the Two Holy Places"
In August 1996, Bin Laden issued a fatwā titled "Declaration of War against the Americans Occupying the Land of the Two Holy Places", which was published by Al-Quds Al-Arabi, a London-based newspaper, criticizing the presence of U.S. forces in Saudi Arabia.
1996: Bin Laden Declared War on the U.S.
In 1996, Osama bin Laden declared war on the U.S. and advocated attacks targeting U.S. assets in various countries.
June 1997: Confessions of arrested men in Al Khobar building bombing
In The New York Times' 26 June 1997 report on the bombing of the Al Khobar building in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, it was noted that those arrested confessed to serving with Bosnian Muslim forces and admitted to ties with Bin Laden.
November 1997: Luxor massacre
In November 1997, it has been claimed that Bin Laden funded the Luxor massacre, which resulted in the death of 62 civilians. The Northern Alliance threatened to overrun Jalalabad, causing him to abandon his Najim Jihad compound and move his operations to Tarnak Farms in the south.
1997: Al-Bahri became Bin Laden's bodyguard
From 1997, Nasser al-Bahri was Bin Laden's personal bodyguard.
February 1998: Declared Holy War Against the U.S. (Fatwa)
In February 1998, Bin Laden declared a second fatwā declaring holy war against the U.S.
February 1998: Bin Laden issued fatwā against the U.S.
On 23 February 1998, Bin Laden, along with 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."
May 1998: Bin Laden Claims Israeli State Aims to Annex Arabian Peninsula
In May 1998, Osama bin Laden stated that the Israeli state's ultimate goal was to annex the Arabian Peninsula and the Middle East and enslave its peoples. He also claimed that the U.S. State Department and U.S. Department of Defense were controlled by Jews.
June 1998: Al-Qaeda congress organized by Bin Laden and al-Zawahiri
On 24 June 1998, Bin Laden and al-Zawahiri organized an al-Qaeda congress.
June 1998: Bin Laden Indicted by U.S. Grand Jury
On June 8, 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 al-Qaeda.
August 1998: Cruise missile strikes on Bin Laden-related targets
In retaliation for the embassy bombings, on 20 August 1998, U.S. President Bill Clinton ordered a series of cruise missile strikes on Bin Laden-related targets in Sudan and Afghanistan.
August 1998: U.S. embassy bombings
On 7 August 1998, simultaneous truck bomb explosions occurred at the U.S. embassies in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and Nairobi, Kenya, killing hundreds of people. Al-Qaeda later claimed responsibility for the bombings, bringing Osama bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri to the attention of the U.S. public.
August 1998: U.S. Cruise Missile Strikes
On August 20, 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
On November 4, 1998, Bin Laden was indicted by a Federal Grand Jury in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, on charges including the murder of US Nationals Outside the United States, Conspiracy to Murder US Nationals Outside the United States, and Attacks on a Federal Facility Resulting in Death for his alleged role in the 1998 embassy attacks.
December 1998: Bin Laden Claims Israeli Jews Control U.S. and UK Governments
In December 1998, Osama bin Laden claimed that Operation Desert Fox was proof that Israeli Jews controlled the governments of the U.S. and the United Kingdom, manipulating them to kill Muslims.
December 1998: CIA reported al-Qaeda preparing for attacks in the 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: Arrest of EIJ members in Albania
By 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.
1998: Indictment for capital crimes in embassy attacks
In 1998, Bin Laden was indicted for capital crimes related to the embassy attacks leading to being added to the FBI's most wanted list later.
1998: Indictment for Embassy Attack
In 1998, Bin Laden was indicted for the embassy attack, leading to his inclusion on the FBI's Most Wanted Terrorists list in 2001.
June 1999: FBI placed Bin Laden on its Ten Most Wanted list
On 7 June 1999, the FBI placed Bin Laden on its Ten Most Wanted list.
June 1999: Bin Laden Added to FBI Most Wanted List
On June 7, 1999, Bin Laden became the 456th person listed on the FBI Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list, following his indictment for capital crimes in the 1998 embassy attacks.
October 15, 1999: United Nations designated 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, aiming to impose sanctions.
October 1999: Al-Qaeda Designated as a Terrorist Organization
In October 1999, the United Nations designated al-Qaeda as a terrorist organization.
December 1999: Arrest of Ahmed Ressam
According to Middle East intelligence reports, Bin Laden financed small convoys of recruits from the Arab world through his businesses in Sudan. Among them was Karim Said Atmani, identified as a document forger for a group accused of plotting bombings in the United States. He is a former roommate of Ahmed Ressam, who was arrested at the Canada–United States border in mid-December 1999, and later convicted of colluding with Bin Laden by a French court.
December 1999: Arrest of Khalil al-Deek in Jordan
In late December 1999, Khalil al-Deek was arrested in Jordan on suspicion of involvement in a plot to blow up tourist sites. He had lived in the area 100 km north of Sarajevo in the past few years. 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: Pakistani Commando Plan Aborted
In 1999, the CIA, together with Pakistani military intelligence, had prepared a team of approximately 60 Pakistani commandos to infiltrate Afghanistan to capture or kill Bin Laden, but the plan was aborted by the 1999 Pakistani coup d'état.
1999: Reported citizenship and Bosnian passports
In 1999, the press reported that Bin Laden and his Tunisian assistant Mehrez Aodouni were granted citizenship and Bosnian passports in 1993 by the government in Sarajevo. Following the September 11 attacks, the Bosnian government denied this information, but it was later found that Aodouni possessed the Bosnian passport when he was arrested in Turkey.
January 2000: Foiled triple attack planned by Islamic militants
In late 2000, Richard Clarke revealed that Islamic militants headed by Bin Laden had planned a triple attack on 3 January 2000, which included bombings in Jordan and an attack on a target within the United States. The plan was foiled by arrests and the sinking of an explosive-filled skiff.
2000: Clinton Administration Focus on Bin Laden
In 2000, before the September 11 attacks, Paul Bremer characterized the Clinton administration as correctly focused on Bin Laden, while Robert Oakley criticized their obsession with Osama.
2000: CIA Operatives Attack Convoy
In 2000, foreign operatives working on behalf of the CIA fired a rocket-propelled grenade at a convoy of vehicles in which Bin Laden was traveling through the mountains of Afghanistan, hitting one of the vehicles but not the one in which Bin Laden was riding.
2000: State Department authorized intelligence officials to visit Sudan
In 2000, the U.S. State Department authorized U.S. intelligence officials to visit Sudan, after previously refusing to engage with them, even after Sudan had expelled Bin Laden.
August 2001: Intelligence Report on Bin Laden's Plans
On August 6, 2001, U.S. President George W. Bush received an intelligence report titled "Bin Laden Determined to Strike in U.S."
September 2001: Najwa Ghanem Left Afghanistan
In September 2001, Najwa Ghanem left Afghanistan two days before the 9/11 attacks.
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 in New York City and the Pentagon. At least 2,750 people died from the attacks.
September 2001: Bin Laden Denies Responsibility
On September 16, 2001, Bin Laden read a statement, later broadcast by Al Jazeera, denying responsibility for the September 11 attacks.
September 2001: Bush Declares 'Wanted: Dead or Alive'
On September 17, 2001, President George W. Bush stated, "I want justice. There is an old poster out west, as I recall, that said, 'Wanted: Dead or alive'" in reference to Bin Laden.
October 2001: Bosnia and Herzegovina described as safe haven for terrorists
In October 2001, a former U.S. State Department official described Bosnia and Herzegovina as a safe haven for terrorists, asserting that militant elements were protecting extremists with ties to Bin Laden.
October 2001: Bombing of Afghanistan Begins
In October 2001, the bombing of Afghanistan began, and prior to this, attempts at assassination and requests for the extradition of Bin Laden from the Taliban of Afghanistan were met with failure.
October 2001: Bin Laden Listed as FBI Most Wanted Terrorist
On October 10, 2001, Bin Laden appeared on the initial list of the top 22 FBI Most Wanted Terrorists, based on the indictment for the 1998 embassy attack. The Taliban eventually offered to turn over Osama Bin Laden to a third-party country for trial if the U.S. ended the bombing, but the offer was rejected.
November 2001: Videotape Recovered Showing Foreknowledge
In November 2001, a videotape recovered by U.S. forces in Jalalabad showed Bin Laden discussing the September 11 attacks with Khaled al-Harbi in a way that indicates foreknowledge.
December 2001: Broadcast of Videotape
On December 13, 2001, a videotape recovered in November 2001 showing Bin Laden discussing the September 11 attacks with Khaled al-Harbi was broadcast on various news networks.
2001: Construction of the Abbottabad Compound began
Imagery from Google Earth indicates that the Abbottabad compound was built between 2001 and 2005.
2001: September 11 Attacks
In 2001, Osama bin Laden supervised the execution of the September 11 attacks inside the U.S.
2001: Battle of Tora Bora
In late 2001, during the Battle of Tora Bora in Afghanistan, the US government concluded that Bin Laden was present, but the U.S. failed to commit enough ground troops, leading to his escape.
2001: Al-Bahri stopped being Bin Laden's bodyguard
Until 2001, Nasser al-Bahri was Bin Laden's personal bodyguard.
2002: Bin Laden's "Letter to the American People" Published
In 2002, Bin Laden's "Letter to the American People" was published. In November 2023, amid the Gaza war, Bin Laden's "Letter to the American People", became the subject of public controversy after some TikTok users expressed sympathy with Bin Laden's statements in the letter regarding the Israel–Palestine conflict.
2002: Bin Laden claims Jews Control US Media, Politics and Economy
In a letter released in late 2002, Osama bin Laden stated that Jews controlled the civilian media outlets, politics, and economic institutions of the United States.
2002: Criticized the U.S. for its Secular Governance
In late 2002, Bin Laden criticized the U.S. for its secular form of governance and called upon Americans to convert to Islam.
2004: Bin Laden Speaks of Bleeding America to Bankruptcy
In a 2004 tape broadcast by Al Jazeera, Osama bin Laden spoke of "bleeding America to the point of bankruptcy", outlining his strategy of luring enemies into long wars of attrition.
2004: Bin Laden Claims Responsibility for 9/11
In the 2004 video, Bin Laden abandoned his denials and said he had personally directed the nineteen hijackers of the September 11 attacks and accused George W. Bush of negligence in the hijacking of the planes on September 11.
December 2005: Bin Laden's Location Revealed in Letter
In December 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: Construction of the Abbottabad Compound finished
Imagery from Google Earth indicates that the Abbottabad compound was built between 2001 and 2005.
2005: CIA Unit Shut Down
In late 2005, the CIA unit composed of special operations paramilitary forces dedicated to capturing Bin Laden was shut down.
May 2006: Bin Laden Claims Responsibility for 9/11 in Al Jazeera Tape
In a tape aired by Al Jazeera on May 23, 2006, Bin Laden announced, "I am the one in charge of the nineteen brothers. ... I was responsible for entrusting the nineteen brothers ... with the raids."
September 2006: Al Jazeera Broadcasts Video of 9/11 Preparations
On September 7, 2006, Al Jazeera broadcast a videotape showing Bin Laden with Ramzi bin al-Shibh, Hamza al-Ghamdi, and Wail al-Shehri, as they made preparations for the September 11 attacks.
2006: Seymour Hersh asserts Bin Laden was a prisoner of ISI at Abbottabad
In a 2015 London Review of Books article, investigative reporter Seymour M. Hersh asserted that Bin Laden had been a prisoner of the ISI at the Abbottabad compound since 2006.
July 2007: Senate Votes to Double Reward
On July 13, 2007, the Senate voted to double the reward for information leading to Bin Laden's capture or death to $50 million.
August 2007: Raid on Tora Bora Caves
Between August 14 and 16, 2007, U.S. and Afghanistan forces raided the mountain caves in Tora Bora after receiving intelligence of a pre-Ramadan meeting held by al-Qaeda members, but they did not find either Bin Laden or al-Zawahiri.
August 2007: Bin Laden Claims Responsibility in Video
In August 2007, Al-Qaeda released verified videos demonstrating Bin Laden's continued survival, where he claimed sole responsibility for the September 11 attacks.
October 2008: Obama Pledges to Kill Bin Laden
On October 7, 2008, then-presidential candidate 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 Bin Laden seen in Afghanistan
Early in February 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.
March 2009: Hunt for Bin Laden centered in Chitral District, Pakistan
In March 2009, the New York Daily News reported that the hunt for Bin Laden had centered in the Chitral District of Pakistan, including the Kalam Valley. Author Rohan Gunaratna stated that captured al-Qaeda leaders had confirmed that Bin Laden was hiding in Chitral. Pakistan's Prime Minister Gillani rejected claims that Osama bin Laden was hiding in Pakistan.
December 2009: US officials comment on Bin Laden's whereabouts and Al-Qaeda
On 6 December 2009, U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates stated that the United States had had no reliable information on the whereabouts of Bin Laden in years. On 9 December, General Stanley McChrystal, the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, said that al-Qaeda would not be defeated unless Bin Laden were captured or killed, thus indicating that the U.S. high command believed that he was still alive.
February 2010: Afghan President visits Saudi Arabia, Saudi role in Afghanistan discussed.
On 2 February 2010, Afghan president Hamid Karzai arrived in Saudi Arabia for an official visit. The agenda included a discussion of a possible Saudi role in Karzai's plan to reintegrate Taliban militants. During the visit, an anonymous official of the Saudi Foreign Affairs Ministry declared that the kingdom had no intention of getting involved in peacemaking in Afghanistan unless the Taliban severed ties with extremists and expelled Osama bin Laden.
June 2010: Report of Bin Laden hiding in Iran
On 7 June 2010, the Kuwaiti newspaper Al-Seyassah reported that Bin Laden was hiding out in the mountainous town of Sabzevar, in northeastern Iran. On 9 June, The Australian's online edition repeated the claim, though this report turned out to be false.
October 2010: NATO suggests Bin Laden is in Pakistan
On 18 October 2010, an unnamed NATO official suggested that Bin Laden was alive, well, and living comfortably in Pakistan, protected by elements of the country's intelligence services. A senior Pakistani official denied the allegations and said that the accusations were designed to put pressure on the Pakistani government ahead of talks aimed at strengthening ties between Pakistan and the U.S.
2010: Bin Laden's Children in Iran
As of 2010, Iranian authorities reportedly continue to control the movements of many of Bin Laden's children who fled to Iran following the September 11 attacks.
2010: Bin Laden criticizes followers for civilian casualties
In 2010, Bin Laden chastised followers who had reinterpreted al-tatarrus to justify routine massacres of Muslim civilians, which had turned Muslims against the extremist movement. He condemned Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan for an attack on members of a hostile tribe where noncombatants were casualties. Bin Laden wrote that the tatarrus doctrine needs to be revisited based on the modern-day context and clear boundaries established. He asked a subordinate to draw up a jihadist code of conduct that would constrain military operations in order to avoid civilian casualties.
April 2011: Operation Neptune Spear Ordered
In April 2011, Barack Obama ordered Operation Neptune Spear, which resulted in the killing of Osama Bin Laden.
April 2011: U.S. intelligence traces Bin Laden to Abbottabad, Pakistan
In April 2011, various U.S. intelligence outlets traced Bin Laden to Abbottabad, Pakistan. It was previously believed that he was hiding near the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan’s Federally Administered Tribal Areas, but he was found 160 km away in a three-story mansion in Abbottabad.
May 2011: Osama bin Laden's Death
In May 2011, Osama bin Laden was killed by U.S. special operations forces at his compound in Abbottabad. His body was buried in the Arabian Sea, and he was succeeded by Ayman al-Zawahiri.
May 2011: Death of Bin Laden
On May 2, 2011, Bin Laden was killed by U.S. special operations forces at his compound in Abbottabad.
May 2011: Osama bin Laden Killed in Abbottabad
Osama bin Laden was killed in Abbottabad, Pakistan, on 2 May 2011, shortly after 1:00 AM local time (4:00 PM Eastern Time on 1 May 2011) by a U.S. military special operations unit. The operation, code-named Operation Neptune Spear, was ordered by Barack Obama in April 2011.
June 2011: U.S. federal prosecutors drop all criminal charges against Bin Laden
On 15 June 2011, U.S. federal prosecutors officially dropped all criminal charges against Bin Laden following his death.
June 2011: Ayman al-Zawahiri Succeeded Bin Laden
On June 16, 2011, Ayman al-Zawahiri succeeded Bin Laden as the leader of al-Qaeda.
February 2012: Pakistani authorities demolish Bin Laden's compound
In February 2012, Pakistani authorities demolished the compound in Abbottabad to prevent it from becoming a neo-Islamist shrine.
March 2012: Report details Bin Laden's movements in Pakistan
On 29 March 2012, Pakistani newspaper Dawn acquired a report produced by Pakistani security officials, based on interrogation of his three surviving wives, that detailed his movements while living underground in Pakistan.
February 2013: Pakistan announces plans for amusement park on former hideout site
In February 2013, Pakistan announced plans to build a PKR 265 million (US$30 million) amusement park in the area, including the property of the former hideout.
2014: Carlotta Gall reports ISI Director General knew of Bin Laden's presence
Carlotta Gall, writing in The New York Times Magazine in 2014, reported that ISI Director General Ahmad Shuja Pasha knew of Bin Laden's presence in Abbottabad.
2015: Seymour Hersh asserts Bin Laden was a prisoner of ISI since 2006
In a 2015 London Review of Books article, investigative reporter Seymour M. Hersh asserted that Bin Laden had been a prisoner of the ISI at the Abbottabad compound since 2006; that Pasha knew of the U.S. mission in advance, and authorized the helicopters delivering the SEALs to enter Pakistani airspace; and that the CIA learned of Bin Laden's whereabouts from a former senior Pakistani intelligence of Ahmad Shuja Pasha, who was paid an estimated $25 million for the information.
2019: Coll states no direct evidence showing Pakistani knowledge of Bin Laden's presence in Abbottabad
Coll states that as of 2019 there is no direct evidence showing Pakistani knowledge of Bin Laden's presence in Abbottabad. Documents captured from the Abbottabad compound generally show that Bin Laden was wary of contact with Pakistani intelligence and police, especially in light of Pakistan's role in the arrest of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed.
2019: Pakistani Prime Minister claims intelligence led CIA to Bin Laden
In an interview in 2019, Pakistani prime minister Imran Khan claimed that Pakistani intelligence led the CIA to Osama bin Laden.
June 2020: Imran Khan praises Bin Laden during parliament session
During a June 2020 Pakistani parliament session, Imran Khan denounced Bin Laden's killing, labeling it as "an embarrassing moment" in their country's history, and also praised Bin Laden as a Shaheed (martyr).
November 2023: Bin Laden's "Letter to the American People" sparks controversy on TikTok
In November 2023, amid the Gaza war, Bin Laden's "Letter to the American People", published in 2002, became the subject of public controversy after some TikTok users expressed sympathy with Bin Laden's statements in the letter regarding the Israel–Palestine conflict. The letter was removed from The Guardian's website and TikTok began taking down videos that shared the letter.
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