Operation Neptune Spear and Role of Technology

Ajey Lele

Group Captain (Dr) Ajey Lele (Retd.) is the Deputy Director General, MP-IDSA. Earlier, he was a Senior Fellow at the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses and headed… Continue reading Operation Neptune Spear and Role of Technology read more

The US Special Forces undertook Operation Neptune Spear nicknamed “Geronimo” to kill Osama bin Laden on May 02, 2011. The importance of this operation is momentous. In the absence of any detailed disclosure by the US administration (till date) about the conduct of this operation, except the press conference held by intelligence officials immediately after the operation, it becomes difficult to study this operation in depth. On the other hand both multiple narratives of this operation are available in electronic and print media. This information is probably based on secondary and tertiary sources and perhaps the intentional leakages of the US administration. Some of these narratives could also be brushed aside as conjecture. However, for various security establishments across the world it is important to at least acquire some understanding about this operation. This could help them to draw several lessons of military importance. It would also help to understand the level of the current level of preparedness of the US forces.

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