The story behind the first CIA officers in Afghanistan after 9/11
Summary
Twenty-five years ago, the U.S. sent its first CIA officers into Afghanistan shortly after the September 11 attacks to begin fighting al-Qaeda and the Taliban. They used a Soviet-designed helicopter to reach the Panjshir Valley and worked with local Afghan forces in the early stages of the war.Key Facts
- The first CIA team, called JAWBREAKER, arrived in Afghanistan on September 26, 2001.
- They used a Russian Mi-17 helicopter because it blended in with local aircraft and could fly high over mountain passes.
- The helicopter carried cash to support Afghan allies and helped gather intelligence.
- The Northern Alliance was a main Afghan ally, and its leader, Ahmad Shah Massoud, was killed just before 9/11.
- The helicopter flew over 300 missions before retiring in 2012 and is now displayed at CIA headquarters.
- Another CIA team, Team Alpha, arrived weeks later to work behind Taliban lines with Uzbek forces led by Abdul Rashid Dostum.
- CIA officer David Tyson, fluent in local languages, was part of Team Alpha and focused on intelligence and working with allied forces.
- The mission involved close cooperation with local forces to fight the Taliban and al-Qaeda.
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