Today marks the 24th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, a tragedy that forever changed the United States and the world.
On that day, 19 radical hijackers carried out coordinated assaults on American soil. Fifteen were from Saudi Arabia, two from the United Arab Emirates, one from Egypt, and one from Lebanon.
At 8:46 a.m., a hijacked plane crashed into the North Tower of the World Trade Center in New York City. Just 17 minutes later, another passenger plane struck the South Tower, triggering chaos and destruction.
The attacks killed nearly 3,000 people, including 2,752 victims inside the Twin Towers, among them 343 firefighters and 60 police officers. Most of the victims were civilians representing over 70 nationalities.
Experts emphasize that September 11 reshaped global security policies, launching a U.S.-led international campaign against terrorism that continues to this day.
