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Netflix’s Top Secret Raid on Osama bin Laden Just Revealed

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It took about 10 years to kill Osama bin Laden in Pakistan on May 2, 2011—a founder of the extremist group al-Qaeda, responsible for the deadliest terrorist attack in American history on September 11, 2001, which left 2,977 dead and thousands injured.

A Netflix documentary series titled “American Manhunt: Osama bin Laden,” premiering on March 10, delves into the experiences of individuals instrumental in planning the iconic raid. Spanning across three episodes, high-ranking intelligence officers who served under Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama discuss significant events that culminated in the capture, as well as the almost decade-long process of locating bin Laden.

In Leon Panetta’s account in the documentary series, he describes the killing of Osama bin Laden as a significant act that, in essence, delivered justice for all the victims of the September 11 attacks.

Let’s examine the most crucial moment in the covert operation and the events unfolding in Islamabad, Pakistan and our nation’s capital, Washington D.C., during the day of the attack.

How the U.S. found Osama bin Laden

Following President Barack Obama’s inauguration in 2009, he urged intelligence personnel to intensify efforts in tracking down Osama bin Laden, making it their top priority under the leadership of newly appointed CIA director Panetta. Their focus zeroed in on a courier named Abu Ahmed, believing he would guide them to bin Laden’s secret location. They felt confident when they confirmed this name with high-ranking al Qaeda operative Khalid Sheikh Mohammed (KSM), who was imprisoned at Guantanamo Bay. Unbeknownst to him, his conversations were being monitored and when he advised other detainees not to discuss Ahmed with any Americans, it further confirmed their suspicions on the right path.

In the summer of 2010, a significant development unfolded: Intelligence agencies managed to eavesdrop on one of Ahmed’s phone calls and traced him to a conspicuous large house in Abottabad, Pakistan, where he was driving a white SUV. The question arose as to how Ahmed, with no discernible source of income, could afford such a property. Moreover, the house was fortified with barbed wire and had a tall privacy wall on its balcony. It’s worth noting that Abottabad is popular among tourists for its scenic mountains; however, Panetta remarks in the series, “Why would you build an eight-foot wall on the third floor?” To further investigate, intelligence officials measured the shadow of a man regularly seen in the garden, who was the same height as bin Laden. They also reached out to a journalist who had interviewed Osama to check if they had any footage of him walking, so they could compare his gait with the mystery man’s stride.

Beginning in April 2011, Navy’s top-tier special operations unit, Seal Team 6, commenced preparing for an assault on a specific compound. They honed their skills in a simulated building situated in North Carolina, designed to mimic the target based on surveillance data. Whenever any part of this mock structure was damaged during drills, it was swiftly restored to enable continuous training.

Approximately a month into their training regimen, Seal Team 6 executed an operation at a complex on May 2nd. The covert mission was carried out utilizing stealthy helicopters that are difficult to detect by radar systems.

Inside the war room

In “American Manhunt,” key Obama administration figures share their activities during the critical hours before the bin Laden raid. While Seal Team 6 was en route to the compound, American authorities handled the tension in various ways. Leon Panetta chose to attend mass for prayer. Michael Morell, deputy CIA director, disclosed that his marriage was strained because his wife was furious he couldn’t attend their daughter’s final high school concert, and he couldn’t reveal what crucial work he was engaged in instead. Rob O’Neill from Seal Team 6 was writing letters for his children, should he not return. President Obama opted to play spades, a game he often turned to when feeling anxious. Ben Rhodes, a top communications advisor, mentioned that conversations around the room centered on reminiscing about where everyone was during the 9/11 attacks.

Following the helicopter landing outside the complex, Seal Team 6 encountered numerous challenges before locating Osama bin Laden. One of the soldiers affirmed his belief that they had reached bin Laden’s secret lair when they discovered a false door on a concrete barrier, exclaiming, “That’s not something anyone would just do!” After tracking down, firing at, and eliminating bin Laden’s courier Ahmed, they encountered women using themselves as human barriers—a sign, according to O’Neill, that he was indeed present.

When O’Neill confronted the globally sought individual, he identified bin Laden by his distinctive nose and found him to be thinner and taller than anticipated. On May 2nd, 2011, Seal Team 6 terminated bin Laden and confiscated all intelligence documents available on the scene.

I myself couldn’t find an instant round of applause in Washington, D.C., despite the news. Rhodes explained that the President insisted on being informed as soon as Seal Team 6 exited Pakistani airspace before any triumphant announcement. Fortunately, no American lives were lost. In the show, O’Neill articulates their thoughts: “We embraced death in this mission, but it’s gratifying to keep living.

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2025-03-08 04:06

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