Washington-Sana
The New York Times revealed that US forces destroyed the last CIA base in Afghanistan, located outside Kabul airport, by a controlled explosion that was heard throughout the Afghan capital and provoked terror among civilians.
And according to what the newspaper reported in today's edition of US officials, the purpose of the bombing of the Eagle base was to ensure that no equipment or information fell into the hands of the Taliban.
The newspaper pointed out that the base, which was established at the beginning of the US invasion of Afghanistan in a former brick factory, was used to train anti-terror forces of the Afghan intelligence services.
According to the newspaper, local Afghans knew little about the base, which was highly secure and impenetrable, with 10-foot walls surrounding the site and a thick metal gate opening and closing quickly to allow cars in.
Once inside, cars still had to pass three external security checkpoints where they were searched and the documents carried by their occupants checked before they were allowed to enter the base.
A former CIA contractor said that destroying al-Qaeda was not an easy task.
The newspaper indicated that the destruction of the base was planned and had nothing to do with the huge explosion that took place at Kabul airport and killed an estimated 170 Afghans and 13 American soldiers.
But the bombing of the base hours after the airport attack alarmed many in Kabul who feared it was another terrorist bombing.
It is scheduled to end the official US mission in Afghanistan to evacuate American citizens and Afghan allies next Tuesday.
The Taliban warned that the evacuations should not be prolonged, while Biden administration officials say that continuing beyond that date will greatly increase the risks to Afghans and US forces.