In 1998 , Osama bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri , ( a leader of Egyptian Islamic Jihad ) , co-signed a '' fatwa '' ( religious edict ) in the name of the World Islamic Front for Jihad Against Jews and Crusaders , declaring : In response to the 1998 United States embassy bombings following the fatwa , President Bill Clinton ordered a freeze on assets that could be linked to bin Laden . Clinton also signed an executive order , authorizing bin Laden 's arrest or assassination . In August 1998 , the U.S. launched an attack using cruise missiles . The attack failed to harm bin Laden but killed 22 people
1998 United States embassy bombings
1998 United States embassy bombings
Militant activity of Osama bin Laden