The 9/11 attacks happened because of a combination of factors including long- standing Islamic extremism fueled by events such as the Iranian Revolution, the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, and U.S. support for Israel and repressive Arab regimes. Extremist groups, particularly al-Qaeda led by Osama bin Laden, viewed the presence of U.S. troops in Saudi Arabia during the Gulf War, U.S. foreign policies, and support for Israel as direct provocations. Bin Laden and al-Qaeda orchestrated the attacks as retaliatory strikes designed to punish the U.S. and deter its influence in the Middle East. The attacks involved hijacked passenger planes deliberately crashed into iconic U.S. targets, killing nearly 3,000 people and triggering the U.S. declaration of a global war on terror.

Causes

• Islamic extremism grew from regional conflicts and global political grievances.
• U.S. military presence and policies in the Middle East were seen as offensive by extremists.
• Economic and social pressures in parts of the Muslim world contributed to radicalization.

Al-Qaeda and Osama bin Laden's Role

• Bin Laden founded al-Qaeda after fighting the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.
• He declared war on the U.S. in 1996 due to American military presence in Saudi Arabia and other grievances.
• Al-Qaeda conducted prior attacks in the 1990s and 2000 before the 9/11 attacks.
• The 9/11 attacks were masterminded by bin Laden as a symbolic strike on U.S. economic and military power.

The Attacks

• Four planes were hijacked on September 11, 2001.
• Two planes hit the Twin Towers in New York City.
• One plane hit the Pentagon near Washington, D.C.
• The fourth plane crashed in Pennsylvania after passengers intervened.
• Approximately 2,977 people died, making it the deadliest terrorist attack in history.

These facts outline why 9/11 happened as a culmination of ideological extremism, geopolitical conflicts, and specific grievances against U.S. policies in the Middle East.