21 moments

1. Move to the Hejaz

   1957-01-01 · Hejaz, Saudi Arabia

   As an infant, bin Laden moved with his parents to the Hejaz region, where he lived through his youth. Coordinate is a representative point in Jeddah for the broader Hejaz region; the move occurred six months after his March 1957 birth.

2. Birth in Riyadh

   1957-03-10 · Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

   Born in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This is the generally accepted birthplace, although some historical FBI and Interpol records listed Jeddah. The article notes historical conflicting listings of Jeddah in some FBI and Interpol documents.

3. Al-Thager Model School attendance

   1968-01-01 · Al-Thager Model School, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

   He began attending Al-Thager Model School in Jeddah, a formative period of his education. Coordinates represent central Jeddah rather than a verified historical campus point.

4. English-language course in Oxford

   1971-01-01 · Oxford, England, United Kingdom

   Bin Laden attended an English-language course in Oxford, England.

5. Joins Afghan anti-Soviet effort

   1979-01-01 · Pakistan

   After leaving college, bin Laden went to Pakistan with Abdullah Yusuf Azzam to assist the Afghan mujahideen resisting the Soviet occupation. Source identifies Pakistan but not a specific arrival locality; coordinate is a representative national point.

6. Residence in Peshawar

   1979-01-01 · Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

   After joining Azzam's effort, bin Laden lived for a time in Peshawar, a key Pakistani hub for foreign volunteers and support moving toward Afghanistan. The source also reports that he lived at several addresses around Arbab Road in Peshawar during the early 1980s.

7. Participation in the Battle of Jaji

   1987-05-01 · Jaji area, Paktia Province, Afghanistan

   Bin Laden participated in the Battle of Jaji in Paktia Province during the Soviet-Afghan War; the battle contributed to his reputation among Arab foreign fighters. The battle ran from 12 May to 4 June 1987. Coordinates represent the Jaji area; the source specifies Paktia Province.

8. Return to Saudi Arabia

   1990-01-01 · Saudi Arabia

   After the Soviet withdrawal period, bin Laden returned to Saudi Arabia and was publicly celebrated in the Saudi press for his role in the Afghan jihad. Source does not specify a city; coordinates use Riyadh as a representative national point.

9. Departure from Saudi Arabia via Pakistan

   1991-04-01 · Pakistan

   While under Saudi pressure, bin Laden left Saudi Arabia under the pretext of attending an Islamic gathering in Pakistan. Source identifies Pakistan but does not identify the gathering's city; coordinate is a representative national point.

10. Base in Khartoum

    1992-01-01 · Khartoum, Sudan

    During his Sudan period, bin Laden established a new base for mujahideen operations in Khartoum. The source’s surrounding section identifies this as his Sudan residence and operational period; date is limited to the documented 1992 move.

11. Move to Sudan

    1992-01-01 · Sudan

    Bin Laden moved to Sudan after leaving Saudi Arabia and Afghanistan, establishing the Sudan period of his organization’s activity. Coordinates use Khartoum as a representative point because the cited statement identifies Sudan rather than a specific arrival site.

12. Chartered flight to Jalalabad

    1996-01-01 · Jalalabad, Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan

    After Sudan pressed him to leave, bin Laden traveled by chartered flight to Jalalabad and began rebuilding contacts in Afghanistan. The preceding text dates Sudan's request that he leave to May 1996; the source does not give a more precise flight date.

13. Nazim Jihad compound residence

    1996-01-01 · Nazim Jihad compound, Jalalabad, Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan

    Bin Laden settled in the Nazim Jihad compound in Jalalabad after returning to Afghanistan from Sudan. Coordinates represent Jalalabad because a defensible exact coordinate for the historical compound was not established.

14. Transit through Kabul

    1996-01-01 · Kabul, Afghanistan

    On returning from Sudan, bin Laden flew to Kabul before settling at a compound in Jalalabad. The source places this journey in 1996 but does not provide a more precise date.

15. Move to Kandahar

    1997-01-01 · Kandahar, Afghanistan

    

    Bin Laden moved to Kandahar, then the Taliban stronghold, after forming closer ties with selected Taliban leaders.

16. Flight to Kabul after USS Cole bombing

    2000-01-01 · Kabul, Afghanistan

    Following the USS Cole bombing, bin Laden fled to Kabul before later joining Mohammed Atef in Kandahar. The source dates this movement only as following the 2000 USS Cole bombing.

17. Appearance in Kabul with al-Zawahiri

    2001-11-08 · Kabul, Afghanistan

    

    Bin Laden was photographed with Ayman al-Zawahiri in Kabul during the U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan.

18. Spotted near Jalalabad

    2001-11-10 · Near Jalalabad, Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan

    CIA tracking placed bin Laden near Jalalabad in a large convoy heading toward the Tora Bora defensive complex. Coordinates represent Jalalabad; the source specifies only that the convoy was near the city.

19. Escape from Tora Bora

    2001-12-15 · Tora Bora, Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan

    During the Battle of Tora Bora, bin Laden escaped the Afghan mountain complex and soon crossed into Pakistan. The source qualifies the date as likely; coordinates represent the Tora Bora cave-complex area.

20. Move into Abbottabad compound

    2005-08-01 · Osama bin Laden's compound, Bilal Town, Abbottabad, Pakistan

    

    Bin Laden moved with family members into the completed compound in Bilal Town, Abbottabad, where he remained in hiding for years. Coordinates are those published for the former compound site.

21. Killed in Abbottabad raid

    2011-05-02 · Osama bin Laden's compound, Bilal Town, Abbottabad, Pakistan

    

    Bin Laden was killed shortly after 1:00 a.m. local time during Operation Neptune Spear at his Abbottabad compound. The compound was later demolished; coordinates identify the documented former site.