Osama bin Laden, the leader of al-Qaeda and world’s notorious militant was killed in a US operation in Abbottabad, on May 2, 2011.
Thirteen years after his death, al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden still haunts people in Pakistan, and parts of the world. Bin Laden’s body was reportedly taken to Afghanistan and buried at sea.
Check some rare facts about Osama bin Laden
Bin Laden’s TimeLine
| Date | Event |
| 1988 | Founded al-Qaeda |
| 1989 | Returned to Saudi Arabia |
| 1991 | Expelled by the Saudis. |
| 1992 | OBL sends his aides to train Somali poeple. |
| 1994 | KSA strips OBL citizenship. |
| 1996 | Travelled to Sudan, then to Afghanistan |
| 1999 | Added to FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list. |
| 2000 | Linked to USS Cole bombing in Yemen. |
| 2001 | US government names bin Laden as prime suspect in September 11 attacks. |
| 2001 | Reports of bin Laden’s alleged death surface. |
| 2001 | Afghan officials report bin Laden is in Pakistan. |
| 2002 | Reports about Osama bin Laden due to kidney failure. |
| 2002 | Bin Laden’s wife believes he is alive. |
| 2002 | Mullah Mohammed Omar claimed OBL alive. |
| 2009 | US government admits lack of intelligence on bin Laden’s whereabouts. |
| 2011 | Bin Laden is killed in a US raid in Abbottabad |
Osama was a fine Poet
Only a few people know that Osama was known for his poetry and his extensive literary knowledge.
He conveyed his passion for writing through poems, some of which were in classical Arabic. His poetry was said to be deeply connected to contemporary political movements and could be quite moving. One of his rhyme titled The Struggle of a Child Who Has Departed from the Land of Sacred Shrines was viral.
OBL never left his compound in Abbottabad
After taking shelter at Abbottabad compound in 2005, Bin Laden never left the premises until his death. As his aides use to visit the compound with limited movement, al-Qaeda chief remained isolated on the top floor, even when he fell ill, refusing to see a doctor outside the compound.
He only left the compound six years later when US special forces removed him by force.
Osama Bin Laden’s wives and children
| Wife | Marriage Years | Children |
| Najwa | 1974 | Abdullah (1976), Abdul Rahman (1978), Sa’ad (1979), Omar (1981), Osman (1983), Muhammad (1985), Fatima (1987), Iman (1990), Ladin “Bakir” (1993), Rukhaiya (1997), Nour (1999 or 2000) |
| Khadijah | 1983-1995 | Ali (1984 or 1986), Amer (1990), Aisha (1992) |
| Khairiah | 1985-2011 | Hamza (1989 or 1991) |
| Siham | 1987-2011 | Kadhija (1988), Khalid (1989), Miriam (1990), Sumaiya (1992) |
| Unknown | 1996 | (Marriage annulled within days) |
| Amal | 2000-2011 | Safiyah (2001), Aasia (2003), Ibrahim (2004), Zainab (2006), Hussain (2008) |
Adult films recovered from his stash
Osama bin Laden, when not plotting attacks against the United States, reportedly spent his time watching his videos.
US forces who raided compound reportedly found extensive collection of adult films, a fact that remains debated.
