8/7/2019 Timeline: The Life of Osama bin Laden

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Bin Laden took apath of terror in life

Osama bin Laden was born in 1957 in Saudi Arabia to a construction tycoon father and was oneof 54 children. The most intense manhunt in history finally caught up with him in Pakistan,outside of Islamabad, where he was killed at a compound.

1980s 1990s 2000s

1980-89: BinLaden fightsSoviet troops inAfghanistan. Afterthe 1989 Sovietretreat, he returnsto Saudi Arabia to

be showered withpraise.

Aug. 1998:Bombings at U.S.embassies in Tanzania(right) and Kenya kill231 people, including12 Americans. BinLaden is indicted inbombing.

Feb. 1998: Heforms theInternational Frontfor Fighting Jewsand Crusades, anumbrella foranti-U.S. Islamic

militantsworldwide.

Oct. 2000:Terrorist attackon USS Cole atAden, Yemen,kills 17 U.S.sailors. BinLaden is linked

to the attack.

Nov. 13, 2002: He threatens Britain,France, Italy, Canada, Germany andAustralia in an audio recording,saying, It is time we get even. Youwill be killed just as you kill, and willbe bombed just as you bomb.

Oct. 7, 2001:U.S. beginsbombings inAfghanistan,saying rulingTaliban isharboring binLaden.

1990-91: During Persian Gulfconflict, he tries to dissuade Saudigovernment from allowing infidelarmies into Saudi Arabia. Saudileadership turns to U.S. forprotection. He moves to Sudan and isstripped of citizenship for continuingto criticize alliances withWashington.

Sept. 11, 2001: Hijackerscrash two jetliners into NewYorks World Trade Centerand a third into Pentagon.A fourth hijacked planecrashes in Pennsylvania.Washington names bin

Laden as chief suspect.

Feb. 11, 2003: BinLaden calls on Iraqis tocarry out suicideattacks on Americansand defend themselvesagainst U.S. attack.

Jan. 2004: In audiorecordings, bin Ladensays the U.S.-led warin Iraq is beginning ofoccupation ofPersian Gulf states

for their oil.

Jan. 19, 2006:He vows in anaudiorecordingnever to becaptured aliveand says theU.S. militaryhas becomeas barbaricas SaddamHussein.

MayPresObaon tsaysLadein PaU.S.ope

Sept. 10, 2003: Bin Ladenis seen in a video walkingthrough rocky terrain with topdeputy, Ayman al-Zawahri. Init, bin Laden praises greatdamage to the enemy onSept. 11 and mentions fivehijackers by name.

Key events in his life since 19801992: Saudi Arabiafreezes bin Ladens bankaccounts and a $350million share of hisfamilys multibillion-dollar empire. After beingforced to leave Sudan,

bin Laden moves toAfghanistan in 1996.