Left: The compound in Pakistan where Osama bin Laden was found and eliminated by U.S. Navy SEAL Team 6.

On May 2, 2011, a decisive moment in the global war on terrorism took place when the infamous terrorist leader, Osama bin Laden, was hunted down and eliminated by the elite United States Navy SEAL Team Six. Osama bin Laden, the diabolical mastermind behind the deadly September 11, 2001, attacks on American soil and destruction of New York City's Twin Towers, was the founder and first leader of the notorious Islamist militant group, al-Qaeda.

The high-stakes operation to capture or kill bin Laden was conducted in Abbottabad, Pakistan, where he had been living in an expansive, fortified compound less than a mile from the Pakistan Military Academy. After more than a decade of diligent intelligence gathering, United States President Barack Obama authorized the daring raid, which would forever change the course of history.

In the dead of night, two stealth-laden Black Hawk helicopters, carrying two dozen highly-trained Navy SEALs, embarked on their perilous mission, departing from a U.S. military base in Jalalabad, Afghanistan, approximately 120 miles away from the target location. The SEALs, armed with state-of-the-art weaponry and cutting-edge technology, were prepared for a fierce and unpredictable battle.

The meticulously planned and flawlessly executed operation unfolded rapidly, concluding in a mere 40 minutes. The SEALs maneuvered through the compound with expert precision, engaging in close-quarters combat with its occupants. In the final moments of the raid, shortly before 1:00 a.m., Osama bin Laden met his end, fatally shot by the courageous men who had risked their lives to bring him to justice.

Aside from bin Laden, three other men, including his son, and a woman also perished in the fierce encounter. Leaving no time to spare, U.S. forces recovered bin Laden's lifeless body, along with a trove of invaluable intelligence materials, before departing back to the safety of their Afghan base.

Upon their return, the remains of the al-Qaeda leader were positively identified using a combination of DNA testing, facial recognition technology, and expert forensic analysis. Bound by the principles of respect and dignity, the U.S. government proceeded to adhere to Islamic tradition in handling bin Laden's body, which entailed a proper cleansing, shrouding, and prompt burial at sea. In November 2014, Navy SEAL Robert O'Neill disclosed that he was the SEAL team member who delivered the kill shot to the world's most wanted terrorist.

Pick up the New York Times Bestseller by Robert O'Neill, author and former U.S. Navy SEAL: