A gripping new three-part docuseries will offer a fresh perspective on how the world came together to track down and capture Osama bin Laden. In May 2011, US intelligence tracked down Osama bin Laden by following his courier, Abu Ahmed al-Kuwaiti, after receiving information from detainees at Guantánamo Bay and using foreign signals intelligence from the NSA.
CIA operatives traced al-Kuwaiti to a compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan, where they conducted surveillance and even vaccinated the city’s residents in a covert DNA collection operation. Navy SEALs subsequently raided the compound in Operation Neptune Spear, killing bin Laden.
American Manhunt: Osama bin Laden, which is part of Netflix’s true crime franchise that has produced the newly released American Manhunt: O.J. Simpson and 2023’s American Manhunt: The Boston Marathon Bombing, will focus on how global efforts were mobilized to track down and capture bin Laden.
Osama bin Laden, also known as Usama bin Laden, was a key figure in global terrorism, recognized by many governments as the leader of al-Qaeda. After founding the group in 1988, he played a central role in orchestrating a series of high-profile attacks, including the 9/11 attacks in 2001, which resulted in the deaths of thousands of people.
Bin Laden’s background included training in guerrilla warfare and terrorism, with links to the CIA during the 1980s, when he was involved in the Afghan resistance against the Soviet invasion, though these ties were later overshadowed by his extremist actions. His rise to prominence marked a significant shift in the nature of global jihadist movements, with his network carrying out attacks across multiple countries.
American Manhunt: Osama bin Laden features interviews with key figures in the US government who assisted in the global pursuit, Tudum by Netflix reports. Additionally, the docuseries recounts the decade-long mission to capture bin Laden.
From directors Mor Loushy and Daniel Sivan, American Manhunt: Osama bin Laden will premiere on Netflix on March 10.