On the morning of Tuesday, September 11th, 2001, the United States was struck by what can only be called the most devastating terrorist attack in recorded history. The world trade towers and the pentagon were both targeted in a coordinated assault that no one saw coming. Across the country, people were simply going about their daily routines, completely unaware that Al-Qaeda, a global terrorist organization, had orchestrated four distinct yet synchronized strikes.
The mastermind behind the plot is believed to have been Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, whose opposition to America's support for Israel drove him to devise the scheme. He reportedly brought the plan to Al-Qaeda's leader Osama bin Laden back in 1996. Bin Laden gave it the green light in 1999, motivated by his conviction that the American government held a deeply anti-Muslim stance.
During the period between 1999 and 2001, bin Laden personally selected 19 terrorists and tasked them with quietly assimilating into the fabric of American culture without raising suspicion.
When the 11th arrived, those 19 recruits stepped aboard four domestic aircraft— American Airlines Flight 11 slammed into the World Trade Center's North Tower, while United Airlines Flight 175 struck the South Tower. Meanwhile, American Airlines Flight 77 was flown into the Pentagon in Arlington, and United Airlines Flight 93 went down in a Pennsylvania field.
Together, the four crashes claimed the lives of almost 3,000 people. The World Trade Center attacks alone were responsible for over 2,600 of those deaths. Beyond the staggering death toll, more than 6,000 people suffered injuries.
Across the globe, people looked on in horror as events unfolded live through television broadcasts and other news outlets.
In the two weeks that followed, the Bush administration delivered an ultimatum to Afghanistan's government: hand over bin Laden and other Al-Qaeda leaders, or face military consequences. When Afghanistan refused to comply, the United States launched an invasion of the country, marking the beginning of what became known as the "War on Terror."
Even though nearly two decades have passed since that fateful day, the events of September 11th remain deeply woven into our collective consciousness — explored endlessly through films, talk shows, interviews, articles and books.