How important was Osama bin Laden?

Find out more about the history of Osama bin Laden, including videos, interesting articles, pictures, historical features and more. Get all the facts on HISTORY.com. ... as “Afghan Arabs,” with training and supplies. Most important, it showed bin Laden and his associates that it was possible to put pan-Islamism into practice. read more

Osama bin Laden was born in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in 1957 or 1958. He was the 17th of 52 children born to Mohammed bin Laden, a Yemeni immigrant who owned the largest construction company in the Saudi kingdom. Young Osama had a privileged, cosseted upbringing. read more

The history of Obama’s most important foreign-policy victory is still being written. read more

View the Osama bin Laden Fast Facts on CNN and learn more information about the former leader of al Qaeda who was killed in 2011. View the Osama bin Laden Fast Facts on CNN and learn more information about the former leader of al Qaeda who was killed in 2011. read more