Media outlets in Russia alleged that Michael D'Andrea, a commander of the intelligence organization, was killed in a plane crash yesterday over state territory • The man had a hand in the Suleimani assassination

• The remains of the plane in Afghanistan // Photo: AFP

Media outlets in Russia and Iran reported Tuesday that a senior CIA intelligence agency was killed yesterday in a U.S. Air Force plane crash over an area controlled by the Taliban, near Gaza City, Afghanistan.

The senior official is reported to be Michael D’Andrea, who is responsible for the organization’s operations in Iran, Afghanistan and Iraq, and has, according to various claims, played a significant part in the elimination of Revolutionary Guards ’Quds Force commander Kassem Suleimani.

While no source in the United States has confirmed the reliability of the reports, the Pentagon admitted that a US Air Force intelligence plane I11 had crashed in Afghanistan but claimed "there is no evidence that the crash was caused by enemy fire."

The U.S. Wall Street Journal reported that the U.S. Department of Defense refused to say how many crew members and passengers were on board the plane, what their identity was and whether any of the passengers survived.

A spokesman for the US forces in Afghanistan, Colonel Sonny Laggett wrote on his Twitter page that a comprehensive military investigation into the events had already begun and that the military would publish more information when it was available.

Yesterday, the Taliban announced that they were able to take down an American plane over Afghanistan. The spokesman for the organization, Zebihalahu Mujahad, claimed that the downed aircraft belonged to the US Air Force and on board were a number of US Army officials, none of whom survived. A reporter who came to the area told the news network IP. Because he saw two bodies near the plane, which was completely burnt.