Announcing the death of al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden in an operation, President Barack Obama said counterterrorism cooperation with Pakistan led the U.S. to location of the militant leader’s hiding. In a statement, Obama said he also spoke to President Asif Ali Zardari on Sunday night. “It is important to note that our counterterrorism cooperation with Pakistan helped lead us to Bin Laden and the compound where he was hiding,” Obama said, acknowleding the Pakistani cooperation. He told Americans on Sunday night ten years after 9/11 terrorist attacks that “justice has been done.” Obama noted that indeed Bin Laden had declared a war against Americans and ordered attacks against the Pakistani people.
“Tonight I called President Zardari and my team has also spoken with their Pakistani counterparts.” Obama said “they agree that it was a good and historic day for both of our nations”.
Going forward, he said, it is essential that Pakistan continues to join the United States in the fight against al-Qaeda and its affiliates.
The announcement was made by Obama from the East Room of the White House while a crowd of Americans gathered outside cheered the news.
Members of Congress were briefed on the news by Vice President Joe Biden throughout the weekend, according to a Senate aide.
President Obama said that on Sunday, a small team of operatives launched a targeted assault on a compound in Abbottabad where months of intelligence work had established that Bin Laden was living. Bin Laden was killed after a firefight, and his body was taken into custody.