Washington, May 2 (IANS) Following is the dramatic sequence of events that led to the killing of Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad, Pakistan.
– August 2010: US President Barack Obama is briefed on a ‘possible lead’ about Osama’s location. Residence of a courier with close ties with Osama is found in Abbottabad, north of Islamabad.
– September 2010: CIA works with Obama on a set of assessments that leads it to believe that Osama may be at the mansion in Abbottabad.
– February 2011: US officials conclude there was a ‘sound intelligence basis’ for pursuing Osama at the location.
– March, April 2011: Obama holds series of National Security Council (NSC) meetings ‘to develop a course of action to bring Osama bin Laden to justice’. There were five NSC meetings between March 14 and April 28.
– April 2011: Obama believed there was enough credible intelligence about Osama’s whereabouts, setting in motion US military operations.
– April 29, 2011: Obama gives final order to pursue the operation.
– May 1, 2011: Obama signs ‘kill order’ after getting intelligence confirmation.
– US Navy Seals fly to Islamabad to launch operation Sunday night.
– Navy Seals raid the compound. Launches assault in which three men – two of them Osama’s couriers and one his son – are killed. A woman being used as a human shield is also killed.
– Osama bin Laden is shot dead.
– Operation lasts about 40 minutes. There is no US casualty. Loss of a helicopter due to mechanical failure.
– US troops carry out Osama’s body to a helicopter.
– Osama buried at sea.
– Obama announces Osama bin Laden’s death to the world at 10.30 p.m
