An American ex-soldier, who was part of the crack special forces team that killed Osama Bin Laden, is facing a two-fronted battle over his forthcoming book detailing his career.
The former US Navy SEAL, who has written 'No Easy Day' under the pseudonym Mark Owen, has supposedly had his photograph and full name published on a website affiliated with al-Qaeda.
The man, who has also been named by American news organisation Fox News, also faces investigation by the USA's Special Operation Command, who has not vetted the book.
The special operations group fear that Owen's book contains information that could endanger former and current American soldiers.
Owen was one of the US Navy SEALs who infiltrated Bin Laden's compound last May
The group's leader, Admiral Bill McRaven, has said: "We will pursue every option available to hold members accountable, including criminal prosecution where appropriate."
McRaven, who sent an open letter to troops concerning the publication of books and films about their careers, said that there is "a distinct line between recounting a story for the purposes of education or entertainment and telling a story that exposes sensitive activities just to garner greater readership and personal profit".
It is not known whether Owen's book contains any classified information, since no military vetting of the book has taken place. According to an official source speaking to Reuters, "even if there is nothing classified disclosed, it should have been reviewed, and it was not".
"I haven't read the book and am unaware that anyone in the Department has reviewed it," George Little, a Pentagon spokesperson, told the Associated Press.
Bin Laden's Pakistani compound, which has since been demolished
Owen's book, which publisher Penguin describes as a "blow-by-blow narrative of the assault", in which two dozen Navy SEALs attacked Bin Laden's compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan, killing the terrorist leader, and other missions in the former SEAL Team Six member's career, has also caught the interest of Al Qaeda-supporting forums.
One post features a picture of the author, with the caption: "First picture of one of the dogs who killed the martyr Sheik Osama bin Laden." Others have called for the man's death.
The book is set to be released on 11 September this year, on the 11th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.
CBS News has reported that the author is also set to appear on its news programme '60 Minutes' only days before the release of the book.