The name of the anonymous U.S. Navy SEAL who penned a book about the special U.S. military team that killed terrorist leader Osama bin Ladin last year has been revealed.
U.S. media report the author is Matt Bissonette, who retired from the Navy shortly after the operation in Pakistan that killed bin Laden.
U.S. publisher Dutton had asked news organizations to withhold his identity.
Dutton had said the fictitious name of the author was Mark Owen. The book titled, "No Easy Day: The Firsthand Account of the Mission that Killed Osama bin Laden," will be released in September.
The U.S. Department of Defense has said if a member of the special U.S. military team that killed bin Ladin has disclosed classified information in the book, the matter could be referred to the U.S. Department of Justice.
The CIA has also said it had not reviewed the book to ensure no classified material is revealed. Former military and intelligence personnel are required to submit any writings to their agencies before the work is published.
Dutton says the book was reviewed by a former special-operations attorney.
The book's release comes as the Obama administration is being criticized for leaking classified details about the bin Laden raid for what some say are political reasons.
U.S. media report the author is Matt Bissonette, who retired from the Navy shortly after the operation in Pakistan that killed bin Laden.
U.S. publisher Dutton had asked news organizations to withhold his identity.
Dutton had said the fictitious name of the author was Mark Owen. The book titled, "No Easy Day: The Firsthand Account of the Mission that Killed Osama bin Laden," will be released in September.
The U.S. Department of Defense has said if a member of the special U.S. military team that killed bin Ladin has disclosed classified information in the book, the matter could be referred to the U.S. Department of Justice.
The CIA has also said it had not reviewed the book to ensure no classified material is revealed. Former military and intelligence personnel are required to submit any writings to their agencies before the work is published.
Dutton says the book was reviewed by a former special-operations attorney.
The book's release comes as the Obama administration is being criticized for leaking classified details about the bin Laden raid for what some say are political reasons.
Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.
