The story behind the first CIA officers in Afghanistan after 9/11
Twenty-five years ago, a Soviet-designed helicopter crossed the mountains of Afghanistan with the first CIA officers sent into the country after 9/11, the opening move in what would later become America's longest war.
Twenty-five years ago, a Soviet-built helicopter named JAWBREAKER carried the first CIA officers into Afghanistan in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks. This marked the beginning of what would become America's longest war. The seven-member team, destined to gather intelligence and support the Northern Alliance, faced challenges from the start with their aircraft, which was in poor condition.
Despite these hurdles, the team successfully entered the Panjshir Valley, a feat made possible by the Mi-17's ability to handle high altitudes. As the CIA's first operational team in Afghanistan, JAWBREAKER set the stage for future missions, including working closely with Uzbek leader Abdul Rashid Dostum's forces against the Taliban and al-Qaeda.
In the process, they encountered intense danger, including a deadly encounter with Taliban forces and the tragic loss of CIA officer Johnny Michael Spann, who became the first American killed in combat in Afghanistan. Spann's legacy lives on through the legacy of the JAWBREAKER team and the CIA's enduring commitment to counterterrorism efforts.
Written by urgent.news from CBS News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
