Killers of Osama NOT Officially Acknowledged

KOMPAS.com - Two dozen members of the US Navy's SEAL Team Six carried out the helicopter assault on Osama bin Laden's fortified compound deep inside Pakistan and one shot him in the head, killing him instantly.

Since 2001, SEAL Team Six has been involved in hunting down "High Value Targets" in Afghanistan and Iraq. The unit, based at Dam Neck, close to Virginia Beach in Virginia, is one of 15 SEAL special forces teams but the only one whose existence is not acknowledged officially.

Members are recruited from the other SEAL teams, making them an elite within an elite. No-one can apply to join.

The SEAL acronym is made up from SEa, Air and Land, signifying their ability to operate on and under the sea, in the air and on land.

The force was formed in Vietnam, and numbers about 6500, with 2000 assigned to special forces duties at any one time. They are part of the US Joint Special Operations Command.

Like their US army comrades in Delta Force, the identities of members of SEAL Team Six are closely guarded and the unit is cloaked in mystique.

SEAL Team Six was formed after the failed attempt to rescue American hostages held in Iran in 1980, which showed there was a gap in American counter-terrorist capabilities.

In 1987, the name was changed to the Naval Special Warfare Development Group but continued to be known within the US military as Team Six.

A number of SEALs have been killed on secret operations in Afghanistan. Their identities are released but the details of their deaths shielded by a cover story, often that they were killed in a training accident.