May 2, 2011
Considered to be the mastermind behind the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States and the central choreographer of trans-national terrorism aimed at the US, democratic countries in general, and autocratic regimes in the Middle East, he eludes a international net aimed at his capture for almost ten years. American special forces fly into Pakistan and kill him in his compound. While his al-Qaeda network is hurt severely by his death, its secondary leadership and affiliates continue to attack their enemies across the globe. America’s War on Terrorism does not end with his death.