Behind the Scenes: Inside the Situation Room

A sobering photo released by the White House on Monday reveals the tension behind the scenes of the mission that resulted in the death of Osama bin Laden.

The gravity of the operation carried out by U.S. forces  is evident on the faces of President Obama and members of the national security team gathered  in the Situation Room of the White House to receive an update as the operation unfolded in Pakistan.

Seen in the photo seated from left are: Vice President Joe Biden, the president, Brigadier General Marshall B. “Brad” Webb, Assistant Commanding General, Joint Special Operations Command; Deputy National Security Advisor Denis McDonough; Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton; and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates. Standing from left are: Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; National Security Advisor Tom Donilon; Chief of Staff Bill Daley; Tony Binken, National Security Advisor to the Vice President; Audrey Tomason Director for Counterterrorism; John Brennan, Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism; and Director of National Intelligence James Clapper.

A classified document seen in this photograph has been obscured.