A senior American official involved in the hunt for Bin Laden said that al-Zawahiri may already be dead. According to his version of events, the Egyptian was in the escaping car and was shot by Taskforce 121, the shadowy rapid reaction force comprising special forces and CIA agents that had helped to capture Saddam Hussein last December.

With Saddam Hussein captured in Iraq, specialist units were transferred from the Middle East. They included the newly formed Taskforce 121, a top secret mixed group of Delta Force commandos, Navy Seals and CIA intelligence experts, which, under the leadership of the legendary Rear-Admiral Bill McRaven, America's top special forces expert, were expected to get results.