Operation Neptune Spear Chronology: The Successful Hunt on Osama Bin Laden

Introduction

On President George W. Bush’s two hundred thirty-third night as Commander in Chief, he addressed our nation from the White House Oval Office in response to the horrendous acts committed on September 11th, 2001 that ended the lives of two thousand nine hundred ninety-seven Americans. In that address, President Bush stated: “The search is underway for those who were behind these evil acts” (Bush, 2001) and just nine days later, on September 20th, President Bush officially announced to the world that the War on Terrorism was commenced. That declaration was made in front of a joint session of Congress after data and intelligence collected over the previous days pointed “to a collection of loosely affiliated terrorist organizations known as al Qaeda” (Bush, 2001).

Fast forward almost two decades later to the present day. The War on Terrorism continues as the United States of America's longest and costliest conflict in its history. This paper will dive deep into two elements that contributed greatly to one major accomplishment in this enduring conflict that brought justice to many and symbolized hope for both citizens of the United States, and across the globe. That accomplishment? Operation Neptune Spear: the death of Osama bin Laden who was the architect behind the attacks on September 11th. The first element that will be discussed were the vital intelligence breakthroughs discovered by personnel inside The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and confirmed by personnel inside The National Security Agency (NSA) and National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA). The last component that will be discussed is how the daring and multifaceted military mission known as “Operation Neptune Spear” was conducted by the men comprised of the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC), which “is a sub-unified command” of the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM)” (United States Special Operations Command, n.d.).

Intelligence

Spring 2009, under the new administration of President Barack Obama, he met privately in the Oval Office with his newly confirmed CIA Director, Leon Panetta. In a CBS News exclusive interview with Steve Kroft, President Obama revealed what he said to Leon Panetta in that private meeting “We need to redouble our efforts in hunting bin Laden down and I want to start putting more resources, more focus, and more urgency into that mission” (Obama, 2011). Then, in the summer of 2010, the first major breakthrough occurred in the hunt for bin Laden. The CIA located, and tracked a cell phone to one of bin Laden’s most trusted couriers, Abu Ahmed al-Kuwaiti in Peshawar, Pakistan that later linked him directly to al Qaeda. This event was a major lead as bin Laden strayed away from any phone, e-mail, or internet use as methods of communication in fear that enemies of his may be listening. Immediately after the phone interception, the CIA deployed two of their assets to the region with the objective to conduct surveillance, collect human intelligence and measurement and signature intelligence on the courier. Soon after, the two assets managed to follow the courier undetected from Peshawar to a fortified and expensive compound embedded in a neighborhood in Abbottabad, Pakistan.

After further observation, the compound raised significant suspicion as it was surrounded by twelve-foot-high concrete walls, the windows on the second and third floor were entirely blacked out, it was guarded with several armed personnel at two entry and exit gates, there was no visual of telephone or internet lines connecting the compound to the outside world, all trash was burned on-site, all children were homeschooled on-site, and no cellphone activity or signals were ever detected from the compound. During all of this ground observance, a dedicated satellite was monitoring the compound above in real-time by several analysts. The analysts charged with this duty noticed overtime that a much taller man compared to his fellow occupants never partook in any activities and only walked around outside within the walls, giving this man the nickname “pacer”. The analysts were able to estimate the pacer's height by taking measurements of his shadow provided by the satellite overhead and calculated the much taller man to be around six-foot, five inches tall. Now, that enhanced level of protection and privacy for a property, along with the live satellite imagery of a rather tall man that never leaves the compound, has an established al Qaeda linked courier, and other intelligence evidence added to the suspicion that the compound may have belonged to Osama bin Laden.

The Operation

Over the course of several months as U.S. intelligence agencies were working hard around the clock to present their findings to the highest level, military officials from JSOC were also working hard to develop several military plans if an operation were to be authorized by President Obama. By early 2011, the evidence provided by the intelligence agencies was not “absolutely conclusive, it was circumstantial evidence that he (bin Laden) was going to be there” (Obama, 2011). Yet, President Obama felt he had enough confidence in everyone involved on this matter, the evidence was convincing enough, and the risks were outweighed by the benefit of finally catching or killing bin Laden. Then, two military plans were presented to the President, his team, and his closest advisors for deliberation and approval. The first plan was a series of airstrikes directly on the compound, and the second approach would be a ground assault conducted by The Naval Special Warfare Development Group (DEVGRU), the premier counter-terrorism unit comprised of already highly trained, capable and elite Navy SEAL’s. The benefits of the airstrike tactic would have been the complete obliteration of the compound, the occupants in it, and it posed a minimal risk of danger to any U.S. military personnel.

However, at what cost though? The airstrike approach had great potential for extensive collateral damage as the compound was located in a residential area, which would result in the death or injury of many innocent civilians, and if bin Laden was in the compound during an airstrike, the ability to verify his remains would be extremely difficult resulting from the power of the airstrikes. Subsequently, that plan was disapproved by the President and the ground assault approach was selected on the morning of April 29th, 2011 as it was deemed the best fit for executing the mission. While the ground approach would put these elite operators in significant danger, it would minimize collateral damage significantly, and allow for positive identification of bin Laden, if he was found in the compound dead or alive. At around 14:00 hours Eastern Standard Time (EST) in Washington, D.C. on May 1st, 2011, President Obama walked downstairs to the White House Situation Room to meet and watch with his closest colleagues, and advisors Operation Neptune Spear unfold. Many hours ahead, across the globe, and on a moonless night in Abbottabad, Pakistan is was soon to be met with many American visitors with a common goal. Across the border in an American base in Jalalabad Afghanistan, two modified Blackhawk helicopters, and two Chinook helicopters controlled by pilots of the U.S. Army’s 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment took off to the compound in Abbottabad, about 160 miles away.

Onboard the modified Blackhawks were two dozen DEVGRU members, and one tracing canine named Cairo. The two Chinooks carried extra combat personnel, equipment, and extra fuel for ariel-refueling. Flying low and fast to avoid detection by Pakistan military radar for about ninety minutes, they finally arrived at the compound at 15:30 EST. Immediately after arrival, one helicopter skillfully crash landed as it lost lift in the warm thin air. Fortunately, no injuries occurred, and the mission went on. DEVGRU members blasted their way into the compound by blowing up several walls and made their way inside on the first floor. They cleared the compound by eliminating combatants, and secured noncombatants. Then, they finally made their way to the third floor where they met their much-anticipated high valued target, Osama bin Laden. Bin Laden posed a significant threat to the point man and was immediately met with three rounds to the chest where he died immediately. Right after, it was heard over the radio 'Geronimo (bin Laden’s code name) EKIA” (Enemy Killed in Action) (Owen & Maurer, 2016). Once the compound was secured enough, team members collected the remains of bodies into body bags, and others gathered any pieces of equipment and intelligence that they could to take back for future analysis. Just after 16:00 EST, the first helicopter departs back to Jalalabad Afghanistan, and minutes after team members on the ground blew up the down helicopter from the beginning of the assault. At 16:10 EST, the remaining personnel on the ground were picked up by a Chinook helicopter to head back to Jalalabad Afghanistan. Photos were taken, DNA tests were conducted, and a positive match that the man on the third floor of the compound that was killed was in fact, Osama bin Laden. After the troops arrived safely back in Jalalabad, and positive identification of bin Laden’s remains were verified, President Obama then addressed the nation at 23:35 EST about the successful raid that killed Osama bin Laden, the leader of al Qaeda, and the chief architect of the September 11th attacks. An hour after that address, bin Laden’s body was buried at sea within twenty-four hours with respect to Islamic law, and to prevent his body from becoming a memorial of any sort. In all, the operation claimed the lives of five enemy combatants, including the world's most wanted man.

Conclusion

Immediately after 9/11 when President Bush stated: “The search is underway for those who were behind these evil acts” (Bush, 2001) to almost a decade later when President Obama stated: “The United States has conducted an operation that killed Osama bin Laden, the leader of al Qaeda, and a terrorist who's responsible for the murder of thousands of innocent men, women, and children.” (Obama, 2011) sent a clear message to the entire world that America's willpower, grit, capacity, and motivation as a population are not to be tested. Information found in this paper embodied those words by identifying in detail how the hunt for Osama bin Laden was accomplished through executive, intelligence, and military collaboration and how the world's most premier counter-terror assault team brought justice to the man who arguably deserved it most.