Osama bin Laden and the history of Al-Qaeda

Osama bin Laden, the founder of the terrorist network Al-Qaeda, orchestrated the September 11 attacks against the United States, targeting economic and military centers including the Twin Towers and the Pentagon. One commercial aircraft, United Airlines Flight 93, crashed following a struggle between passengers and terrorists.

Born into a wealthy Saudi Arabian family, bin Laden’s trajectory shifted during the 1979 Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. He became a prominent figure by providing funding, weapons, and training for the mujahideen fighting Soviet forces. Following the Soviet withdrawal, Al-Qaeda was established in 1988. Bin Laden was eventually killed in Pakistan in May 2011.