-
9/11
Attacks in New York city, Washington D.C., and Shanksville Pennsylvania, U.S. killed 2,993 people. -
Operation of Osama Bin Laden
President George W. Bush says apprehending bin Laden is his top goal. “The most important thing is for us to find Osama bin Laden,” he says. “It is our No. 1 priority and we will not rest until we find him.” -
War in Afghanistan
War begins. -
Operation Active Endeavour
a maritime operation of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Designed to prevent the movement of terrorists or weapons of mass destruction. -
The Battle of Tora Bora
Before escaping U.S. capture, bin Laden signs a last will and testament on Dec. 14, 2001. -
The Pentagon
The Pentagon releases a video it claims shows bin Laden discussing the Sept. 11 attacks with guests at an al-Qaida dinner at a house in Kandahar, Afghanistan. In the tape, he says the attack surpassed his expectations. -
Osama Bin Laden tape
In a tape filmed to mark three months since Sept. 11, a tired-looking and gaunt bin Laden appears to take credit for the attacks. The background is a brown blanket used to hide any clues that could disclose his location. -
Osama Bin Laden audio tapes
Al-Jazeera broadcasts an audiotape purported to be by bin Laden in which he praises terrorist attacks on Bali, in Moscow and against a French tanker off the coast of Yemen. He links Australia’s role in East Timor to the attack in Bali. Doubts later emerge about the tape’s authenticity. -
U.S. Invades Iraq
-
Saddam Hussein is captured
He is brought to trial under the Iraqi interim government. On Nov. 5 2006, he is convicted of charges related to the 1982 killing of 148 Iraqi Shi’ites and was sentenced to death by hanging. Saddam was executed on Dec. 30, 2006. -
Attack
Ten bombs go off almost simultaneously in trains carrying commuters into Madrid. The attacks kill 190 people and wound about 2,000. -
Ransom on U.S. administrator
A recorded message attributed to bin Laden offers 10 kg of gold to anyone who kills the U.S. administrator in Iraq, Paul Bremer, or U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan. -
New Threats on the U.S.
A videotape surfaces days before the U.S. presidential election in which bin Laden admits responsibility for Sept. 11 and threatens new attacks on the U.S. -
Time for a truce??
After more than a year of silence from bin Laden, a tape purportedly recorded by the al-Qaida leader warns that a new wave of terror attacks are in preparation. It also offers a truce to the U.S. if it withdraws from Afghanistan and Iraq. -
Another Audiotape
An audiotape allegedly from bin Laden claims responsibility for an attempt to blow up a plane en route to Michigan on Christmas Day 2009, and it warns the U.S. of more attacks. -
President Obama
President Obama declares an end to the seven-year American combat mission in Iraq, saying that the United States has met its responsibility to that country and that it is now time to turn to pressing problems at home. -
Death of Osama Bin Laden
bin Laden is killed in a U.S. raid on his compound in Pakistan.