September 11 attacks

On September 11, 2001, the United States suffered what was described as the worst defeat in its history when three aircraft crashed into the Pentagon building in Washington and the World Trade Center in New York, while a car bomb exploded outside the State Department. These suicide attacks in the United States killed thousands of Americans and injured just as many, causing billions of dollars in losses. All airports across the country were closed, and important government buildings, including the White House, were blacked out.

In planning the attacks on the United States, Sheikh Osama bin Laden had planned to attack using more than four aircraft. He used to say that America was not a country that could be defeated by six or ten aircraft. However, he rushed the attacks for two reasons.

1. Sheikh Osama bin Laden knew that the United States had already planned to attack Afghanistan. Therefore, he wanted to launch a surprise attack first and humiliate the United States.