On May 2, 2011, U.S. Navy SEALs carried out a raid on a compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan, that resulted in the death of Osama bin Laden. Bin Laden was the leader of al-Qaeda and the mastermind behind the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. The operation followed years of intelligence work and surveillance of the compound. President Barack Obama announced the result to the nation that night, calling it an important step in the fight against terrorism. Many Americans saw the operation as a form of justice for the victims of 9/11. The raid also raised discussion about international law, Pakistani sovereignty, and the future of U.S. counterterrorism strategy.
