Cairo, the dog who helped bring down Osama Bin Laden

On May 2, 2011, Cairo accompanied the team of U.S. Navy SEAL Team Six who killed al-Qaeda leader Bin Laden during a raid on his compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan. The mission ended a nearly decade-long international manhunt for the notorious mastermind behind the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Just as many details about the members of SEAL Team Six who were involved in the covert operation remain classified, specifics about Cairo are largely unknown to the public. According to various news accounts, the K9 warrior’s role was to help patrol the compound and attack any enemy fighters who might appear. Cairo is believed to be a Belgian Malinois, a breed that bears a resemblance to but is smaller in size than the German shepherd. The Malinois is prized by the U.S. military (which began using canines extensively starting with World War II) for its intelligence, speed, sharp sense of smell and strength (the dog’s powerful jaws have earned it the nickname “maligator”). Since the Bin Laden raid, Cairo’s whereabouts have remained a mystery; however, it has been reported that shortly after the mission, when President Barack Obama met with the SEALs to congratulate them, the commander in chief also asked to meet Cairo, who was waiting in a nearby room.