CIA declassifies files seized during Osama bin Laden assassination
What's the story
Almost seven years after Al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden was killed by US forces, the mystery surrounding him and the organization continues to fascinate many.
In a bid to enable the public to gain further insights, the CIA has de-classified around 4,70,000 files seized during the 2011 operation conducted at Laden's residence in Abbottabad, Pakistan.
What information do these files contain? Read on.
Information
Declassified Osama files: What do they include?
The declassified documents include at least 18,000 documents including Osama's personal journal. Over 79,000 audio and image files have also been released. These purportedly consist of speeches, audio correspondence, and his son Hamza bin Laden's wedding video.
About
Who is Osama bin Laden?
Born into the wealthy bin Laden family of Saudi Arabia, Osama founded al-Qaeda in 1988.
He first came to Pakistan to be trained as a mujahid to fight the Soviets in Afghanistan.
Decades later, he masterminded the 9/11 attacks.
The network he built across Afghanistan-Pakistan helped him acquire a safe haven after orchestrating the attacks, first in the Taliban-led Afghanistan and later, Pakistan.
Operation Geronimo
How the US took down Osama
The US avenged Osama for the 9/11 attacks through Operation Geronimo, conducted in May 2, 2011.
US Navy SEALS, acting on intelligence inputs, launched a covert operation to take out Osama, who was hiding with his family near Abbottabad, Pakistan.
The operation was hailed as one of the biggest achievements of the Obama presidency.
However, the operation continued to be subject to conspiracy theories.
What?
What information do the files contain?
According to CIA chief, Mike Pompeo, the declassified files will provide an insight into the plans and working of Al Qaeda as an organization and its ideological differences with others, including ISIS.
The files also contain information on Al Qaeda's attempts to spread its ideology through western media.
The documents also detail how Osama tried to maintain unity within the organization amid multiple disagreements.