The Mail has quoted Mr O'Neill's father, Tom, saying: "People are asking if we are worried that ISIS will come and get us because Rob is going public. I say I'll paint a big target on my front door and say come and get us." According to the report, Rob O'Neill is a highly-decorated veteran, who was prompted to speak out after he lost military benefits when he left the SEALs after 16 years of service, rather than completing the full 20 years of service. He was deployed on more than a dozen tours of active combat, including in Iraq and Afghanistan, and was decorated 52 times. He has reportedly been portrayed on screen in Hollywood blockbusters Zero Dark Thirty, Captain Phillips and Lone Survivor. But, despite the exclusive tag, SOFREP, a well-known website that writes about the US special forces community, appears to have named Mr O'Neill as the man due to appear on Fox, three days before the Mail article. In March 2013, Esquire also published a story interviewing "the man who shot and killed Osama Bin Laden" but did not reveal his name.

In an update now added to the story, it says that the man has been revealed and confirmed as Mr O'Neill. Mr O'Neill's decision to speak about his involvement in the mission Operation Neptune Spear, that killed Bin Laden, is a controversial one. Force Master Chief Michael Magaraci and commander Rear Admiral Brian Losey have written a letter to past and present SEALs warning them not to talk about missions. "A critical tenant [sic] of our Ethos is 'I do not advertise the nature of my work, nor seek recognition for my actions,' " the letter said. "Violators of our Ethos are neither Teammates in good standing, nor Teammates who represent Naval Special Warfare.

"We do not abide willful or selfish disregard for our core values in return for public notoriety and financial gain, which only diminishes otherwise honorable service, courage and sacrifice." The letter also says that classified information is protected by law, and legal action will be sought against "members who willfully violate the law". Mr O'Neill's father told the Mail that he supported his son sharing his story. "He is not allowed to talk, yet they are using this big bullhorn to shut him up," he said. "I support him in everything he is doing.

"What are you supposed to do when you come out of the military after such service - become a greeter at Walmart?" In the Esquire interview, Mr O'Neill, who is referred to only as "the shooter", described the moment he confronted Bin Laden in the compound. "In that second, I shot him, two times in the forehead. Bap! Bap! The second time as he's going down. He crumpled on to the floor in front of his bed and I hit him again, Bap! same place. That time I used my EOTech red-dot holo sight. He was dead. Not moving. His tongue was out. I watched him take his last breaths, just a reflex breath," Mr O'Neill said. "And I remember as I watched him breathe out the last part of air, I thought: 'Is this the best thing I've ever done, or the worst thing I've ever done? This is real and that's him. Holy shit.' " Rob O'Neill's then estranged wife told the magazine she felt concerned for her safety.

"We're actually looking into changing my name," his wife was quoted as saying. "Changing the kids' names, taking my husband's name off the house, paying off our cars. Essentially deleting him from our lives, but for safety reasons. We still love each other." Mr O'Neill is not the only SEAL involved in the raid to be identified. In 2012, veteran Matt Bissonnette penned a bestselling book about the mission under a pen name Mark Owen. He is reportedly being investigated by the US federal government and also copped the ire of the special operations world for allegedly disclosing classified information.

"I would go back overseas today and deal with fighting ISIS face-to-face rather than deal with the last two years again," Bissonnette told CBS this week.