How Osama Bin Laden Escaped Tora Bora and Vanished for a Decade

The crime docuseries by Netflix, titled “Hunting Down Osama bin Laden: An American Pursuit“, delves into the operations and struggles faced by the U.S. military during their mission to capture Osama bin Laden, notably including the Battle Of Tora Bora. Directed by Mor Loushy and Daniel Sivan, “Hunting Down Osama bin Laden: An American Pursuit” provides an in-depth look at the ten-year long hunt for terrorist Osama bin Laden following his public admission of responsibility for the September 11, 2001 attacks. The latest addition to Netflix’s impressive collection of true-crime documentaries, this three-part series is the third installment in the “American Manhunt “series, with the previous series focusing on the Boston Marathon Bombing and the controversial acquittal of O.J. Simpson.

Following the September 11 attacks in 2001, the United States initiated a military campaign against Afghanistan on October 7, 2001. This campaign eventually led to the downfall of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, which had governed most of the country for fifteen years prior. This conflict, known as the Afghanistan War, extended from 2001 until 2021, making it the longest war in U.S. military history. During this prolonged conflict, numerous missions and battles were carried out, one notable instance being the Battle of Tora Bora, which occurred during the final phases of the initial U.S. invasion in 2001.

The Battle Of Tora Bora Was An Attempt To Kill Or Capture Osama Bin Laden

The Battle Of Tora Bora Took Place From November 30 To December 17, 2001

In “A New Kind of Enemy,” the opening episode of American Manhunt: Osama bin Laden, footage from the September 11 attacks is displayed, including the crash of American Airlines Flight 77 into the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia. Navy officer Kevin Shaeffer, who sustained severe injuries during the attack, recalled the area as being on fire everywhere and described the Pentagon damage as a massive black void. Following the attacks, passengers’ names were checked, and eventually, analysts linked one of the terrorists to Osama Bin Laden.

5 days following the September 11 attacks, President George W. Bush initiated a mission against Osama bin Laden’s terrorist group, al-Qa’ida, codenamed Operation Jawbreaker, to amass all essential data for U.S. troops to invade Afghanistan. Gary Berntsen, the CIA field commander, described the early stages of Operation Jawbreaker, detailing how his team had operatives stationed in various Afghan regions when one of bin Laden’s radios was discovered. Tracing its signal’s origin revealed that bin Laden was concealed in Tora Bora.

On November 30, 2001, it was identified that Osama bin Laden was hiding in the White Mountain range of Tora Bora. Teams consisting of CIA agents and Afghan tribal fighters then started searching the region to pinpoint his exact location. Aerial bombings were initiated as a strategy to entice him out of his hideout (as reported by BBC). In essence, the main purpose of this operation was to locate bin Laden, either to apprehend him for transport back to the U.S. or to eliminate him.

What Happened During The Battle Of Tora Bora

Bin Laden Escaped Capture By US Forces

During the initial phase of the Battle of Tora Bora, Gary Berntsen petitioned for 800 U.S. Army Rangers to reinforce his forces. According to “American Manhunt: Osama bin Laden,” Berntsen explained that their troops were outgunned and required ranger support to seal off potential escape routes. Regrettably, the United States Army (acting on behalf of the U.S. Federal Government) turned down his request. In his memoir “Jawbreaker: The Attack on Bin Laden and Al Qaeda: A Personal Account by the CIA’s Key Field Commander,” Berntsen acknowledged that this decision had a significant influence on the eventual outcome of the mission.

In the book “American Manhunt: Osama bin Laden,” counterterrorism director Cofer Black and CIA operator Tracy Walder voiced their dismay over the decision not to send additional military support during the Battle of Tora Bora. Black reportedly said that he was told by a representative, “This isn’t your concern. This is a CIA operation.” On December 17, 2001, it was confirmed that the Tora Bora complex had been destroyed and approximately 220 al-Qaeda members were killed and 52 were captured (according to Britannica). Following the destruction of Tora Bora, CIA agents combed the area in search of Osama bin Laden.

How Osama Bin Laden Escaped To Pakistan During The Battle Of Tora Bora

Bin Laden Evaded Capture Until His Assassination In 2011

It took six months following the Battle of Tora Bora for it to be disclosed that Osama bin Laden had managed to evade capture and fled to Pakistan (through a network known as The Cove). As detailed in “American Manhunt: Osama bin Laden,” Gary Berntsen recounted his discovery of bin Laden’s escape after spotting him on TV plotting future strategies. This revelation came as a significant shock to the US Government, with counterterrorism analyst Cindy Storer expressing her concern that “bin Laden could go anywhere” and remain hidden from their grasp, leaving his whereabouts and intentions unknown.

According to various theories, it is thought that Osama bin Laden managed to elude capture and make his way to Pakistan through a secret network of tunnels hidden within the mountains of Tora Bora, with assistance from local guides. It wasn’t until May 2, 2011, during Operation Neptune Spear, that he was finally killed in Abbottabad (as reported by the FBI). This prolonged search for bin Laden significantly impacted the United States and the War in Afghanistan, as depicted in “American Manhunt: Osama bin Laden.

Sources: CIA, BBC (1), United States Federal Government, Britannica, The Cove, BBC (2), FBI

2025-05-17 01:18