Osama bin Laden was a Saudi dissident and prominent figure in the global Islamist movement before becoming known as the leader of the terrorist organization al-Qaeda and the mastermind behind the 9/11 attacks. He left his home country of Saudi Arabia in 1989 for Afghanistan in order to help them fight off the ongoing Soviet invasion.

The Soviet Union’s invasion of Afghanistan had led to a nine-year conflict, and bin Laden was determined to help the Afghans in their struggle for freedom and independence. He had already acquired a great deal of wealth and influence due to his family’s status and his own business dealings, thus making him a natural choice for leading the resistance.

Bin Laden initially gained a great deal of respect for his efforts in aiding the Afghans against the Soviets. He provided them with financial assistance, weapons, and volunteers for the fight. He also worked to strengthen the Islamist militant organization Mujahideen, which had formed to oppose the invasion, and he helped to spread anti-Communist propaganda.

Bin Laden was welcomed as a hero in Afghanistan for his commitment to the cause, and he gradually became more and more influential within the Mujahideen organization. He also gained a greater appreciation for the political benefits that could be achieved through militant action. This newfound ideology inspired him to form al-Qaeda after the Soviet Union withdrew from Afghanistan in 1989.

Although bin Laden had originally left Saudi Arabia to fight the Soviet Union, his newfound philosophy and increased international attention soon led to his expulsion from the country. In 1996, Saudi Arabia revoked his citizenship due to his anti-government activities and vocal opinions against the Royal Family. Bin Laden eventually relocated to Sudan, where he resided until 1997, when a lack of support from the Sudanese government led to his return to Afghanistan.

Bin Laden’s relocation to Afghanistan allowed him to further develop and expand al-Qaeda, which ultimately culminated in the terrorist attacks of 9/11. While bin Laden’s ultimate vision may have met a tragic end, his motivation for leaving Saudi Arabia in 1989 was quite clear: to fight for the freedom and independence of the Afghan people from an oppressive and oppressive regime.