Thursday, August 15, 2019
Biography of Osama bin Laden:
Osama bin Laden (1957-2011) was the founder and former leader of the extremist group al-Qaeda. He became one of the most infamous figures in the world due to his involvement in numerous terrorist attacks, most notably the September 11, 2001 attacks in the United States. Here is an overview of his biography:
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| Biography of Osama bin Laden |
Early Life:
- Osama bin Laden was born on March 10, 1957, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, into a wealthy and influential family. He was the 17th of 52 children of Mohammed bin Laden, a construction magnate with close ties to the Saudi royal family.
Osama bin Laden's Involvement in Jihad:
- Bin Laden joined the Afghan resistance against the Soviet Union's invasion of Afghanistan in the 1980s. He established the Maktab al-Khidamat (Office of Services) to funnel money, weapons, and fighters to the Afghan mujahideen.
- After the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan in 1989, bin Laden turned his attention to anti-Western and anti-American activities.
Formation of al-Qaeda:
- In 1988, bin Laden founded al-Qaeda, an extremist Islamist organization. The group aimed to establish a global Islamic caliphate based on strict interpretations of Sunni Islam.
- Al-Qaeda was responsible for several attacks against American targets before the September 11, 2001 attacks, including the 1998 U.S. embassy bombings in East Africa.
September 11, 2001 Attacks:
- On September 11, 2001, 19 al-Qaeda terrorists hijacked four commercial airplanes. Two of the planes were flown into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, causing their collapse. Another plane hit the Pentagon in Virginia, and the fourth plane, United Airlines Flight 93, crashed in Pennsylvania after passengers attempted to regain control from the hijackers.
- The 9/11 attacks resulted in the deaths of nearly 3,000 people and prompted the United States and its allies to launch the War on Terror, including the invasion of Afghanistan in 2001.
Osama bin Laden's Life in Hiding:
- After the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan, bin Laden went into hiding to evade capture. He was on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list for his involvement in the 1998 embassy bombings and the 2000 USS Cole bombing.
- Bin Laden's whereabouts remained unknown until May 2, 2011, when he was found and killed by U.S. Navy SEALs in a compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan.
Osama bin Laden's life and actions had profound implications for global politics and security, leading to significant changes in international relations and counterterrorism efforts worldwide.