Osama bin Laden was the founder of al-Qaeda, the Islamist extremist organization responsible for the attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001. He was born into a wealthy Saudi Arabian family in 1957 and used his resources to fund radical militant groups. Bin Laden was eventually killed by U.S. forces in Pakistan in May 2011. His death marked the end of a decade-long hunt to bring the mastermind of the September 11th attacks to justice.
Osama bin Laden viewed the Soviet-Afghan War as a pivotal event, considering it to be the turning point in his life. He believed that the Soviet Union's defeat in Afghanistan by an religiously inspired guerilla force vindicated his belief in the power of jihad and the idea that a committed group of fighters could prevail against a superpower. This experience significantly influenced his political and religious ideology and later led him to form al-Qaeda.
Bin Laden was of the opinion that the war severely weakened the Soviet Union's authority and power, enabling its eventual dismantling. He extrapolated from this that a similar holy war could also bring down other superpowers, specifically targeting the United States.
However, it's important to note that these interpretations represent Osama bin Laden's viewpoints and were largely used to justify his actions and recruit followers to his cause. His opinions were widely criticized and rejected by majority of the world including numerous Muslim scholars and leaders.
In his years in hiding, Osama bin Laden reportedly led a somewhat quiet and secluded life, but information about his exact daily routine varies among sources. However, based on declassified documents and some reports, it can be suggested that bin Laden retained a somewhat structured, albeit secretive schedule.
Family Life: Bin Laden was living with his multiple wives and some of his children in a compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan. In this compound, bin Laden reportedly strove to keep his presence a secret, living a life of relative isolation even from many of those within the compound.
Quasi-Monastic Discipline: Insiders report that he adhered to a fairly austere lifestyle. Bin Laden was known for his discipline. He avoided drinking and smoking and was a strict adherent to his interpretation of Islam.
Communication: Despite the secrecy of his life in hiding, he still tried to retain control over al-Qaeda. Bin Laden used couriers to pass letters to his operatives and affiliates around the world to relay his instructions, as he had no internet or phone lines that could be traced.
Media Consumption: Bin Laden also spent time watching and studying media. There are reports that suggest he used to watch news channels and videos to stay informed and to scrutinize how the Western world perceived him and al-Qaeda. He also read books covering a range of subjects, including international politics, economics, and military conflict.
Religious Practices: Bin Laden was known to be a devout Muslim and his daily routine included regular prayers. His beliefs were instrumental in guiding his operations and the direction of al-Qaeda.
To draw conclusions about the daily life in the compound is difficult as much is based on speculation and inference from the limited information publicly released following the raid on the Abbottabad compound. It's crucial to remember that specifics can depend on the various sources that discuss this matter.
Osama bin Laden had a tremendous influence on extremist groups globally. His ideologies and methods became a standard for many extremist groups around the world. As the founder of al-Qaeda, he was a driving force behind several large-scale attacks, most notably the September 11 attacks in the United States.
Bin Laden's messages of global jihad resonated with many extremist followers and called them to take part in what he referred to as a holy war against the West and its allies. His networking skills and charisma helped him build a vast and tight-knit organization, which has inspired other extremist groups to follow in his footsteps. Today, we can still see an echo of his influence, as groups like ISIS, Al-Shabab, and Boko Haram demonstrate similar beliefs and methodologies.
However, it's important to note that his beliefs and activities have been universally rejected by mainstream Muslims all over the world, and do not reflect the teachings of Islam, a religion practiced peacefully by billions of people.
Osama bin Laden was the seventh of 50 children born to Muhammad bin Laden, a wealthy businessman with close ties to the Saudi royal family. He was born on March 10, 1957, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Osama's father divorced his mother, Hamida al-Attas, shortly after he was born. She remarried, and Osama was raised by his stepfather.
In his early education, Osama was exposed to religious studies significantly and was deeply influenced by the teachings of fundamentalist Islamic scholars during his university years. He studied economics and business administration at the King Abdulaziz University in Jeddah, and it is reported that during this time, he might have developed his organizational skills which he used later on.
In relation to his personal life, Osama had multiple wives as he adhered to Islamic teachings which permit polygamy up to four wives if the husband can treat them all equally. It is said that he married his first wife, a Syrian relative, at the age of 17.
He was considered a quiet, devout and by all accounts, nonviolent man until 1979, when Soviet forces invaded Afghanistan. He joined the "jihad" or holy war against the Soviet Union, which brought him deeper into militancy and extremism.
Bin Laden was a father to many children, with estimates of their number range from 20 to 26. He was stringent about their religious education and discipline.
He avoided modern technologies, concerned about security. However, at the same time, he was known to conduct many organizational matters including coordinating and ordering attacks via couriers and handwritten notes.
Another notable point is his residence — from fruitful life in Saudi Arabia and fighting in the rugged terrains of Afghanistan to hiding in Sudan and Pakistan. This transition shows his constant need for security because of his deteriorating relationships with previous allies and his increasing status as a wanted international terrorist.
Osama's life took a dark turn when he established Al-Qaeda, an infamous international terrorist organization. This led to his infamy worldwide and his eventual death in 2011 by a U.S. military operation in Abbottabad, Pakistan.
Osama bin Laden, the former leader of Al-Qaeda, has no known or documented remarks regarding the "dancing Israelis" - which refers to five Israeli men detained by police in New Jersey on September 11, 2001 after they were observed behaving in a supposedly strange manner as the Twin Towers were falling. They were later deported back to Israel after exonerating evidence was found. The FBI officially concluded that they had no foreknowledge of 9/11. It's important to note that any links between bin Laden or his organization, and these individuals, are purely speculative and unsupported by any concrete evidence or reliable sources.
Osama bin Laden was believed to have an estimated net worth of around $50 million at the time of his death in 2011. This estimation is primarily based on his inheritance from his father Mohammed bin Laden, a wealthy Saudi Arabian businessman with a large construction company. Osama was estranged from his wealthy family and exiled from Saudi Arabia in 1992, so the total monetary resources he could access by the time of his death is unclear. His wealth was used to finance Al Qaeda and other extremist activities.
Osama bin Laden was killed in a U.S. military operation in Abbottabad, Pakistan, on May 2, 2011. According to official U.S. government accounts, his body was treated in accordance with Islamic custom. This involved washing the body and wrapping it in a white shroud. It is reported that bin Laden was then buried at sea from the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier within 24 hours of his death. This was done to adhere to Islamic burial traditions, which require quick burial, and with the cited intent of avoiding a burial site that could have become a focal point for extremist sentiments. The precise location of his sea burial remains undisclosed.
Osama bin Laden died on May 2, 2011, in a covert operation by U.S. Navy SEALs. The operation, codenamed Neptune Spear, took place in bin Laden's compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan. After several months of intelligence gathering and planning, the SEALs infiltrated the compound, and Bin Laden was killed in the ensuing firefight. His body was taken into custody by the U.S. forces, and he was later buried at sea.
Osama bin Laden, the founder of the militant Islamic group Al-Qaeda, lived in multiple locations during his life. He was born in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and spent his early life there. For his university education he attended King Abdulaziz University in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
In the 1980s, he lived in Afghanistan, where he equated himself with the Afghan mujahideen during their struggle against the Soviet Union. During this time, he also traveled to Pakistan frequently.
Post the Afghan war, he returned to Saudi Arabia briefly but was exiled due to his radical views and opposition to the Saudi Royal family. This led him to Sudan in the early 1990s where he lived until 1996.
Upon being expelled from Sudan under international pressure, bin Laden returned to Afghanistan where he was given asylum by the Taliban. It was during this period that he orchestrated various attacks including the 9/11 attacks on the US.
On May 2, 2011, bin Laden was located and killed by U.S. forces in Abbottabad, Pakistan, in a covert operation. The discovery of him in Pakistan raised many questions about his ability to reside there without detection.
Discover and learn about people that are similar to Osama bin Laden.