A terrorist attack on a forward operating base in Afghanistan claimed the lives of seven Americans on Wednesday. The victims, all agents working for the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), were at a well-fortified base in Khost Province. One Afghan and six other CIA agents were also injured in the attack.
According to Reuters, the attack was carried out by a rogue member of the Afghan army who was a Taliban sympathizer.
“Those who fell yesterday were far from home and close to the enemy, doing the hard work that must be done to protect our country from terrorism,” stated CIA Director Leon E. Panetta in a message to agency employees.
Panetta said that because of the sensitive nature of the agents’ mission and ongoing operations, their names and details of their work would not be released. It is the largest number of CIA agents killed at one time since the 1983 U.S. Embassy bombing in Beirut.
U.S. military doctors and nurses were lauded by the CIA for saving the lives of numerous other individuals who were wounded in the attack.
President Obama sent his condolences in a letter to CIA officers on Thursday. “These brave Americans were part of a long line of patriots who have made great sacrifices for their fellow citizens, and for our way of life,” stated President Obama.
The letter also credited the work of CIA agents for disrupting terrorist plots, saving lives, and making U.S. allies more secure in the years since 9/11.
According to Reuters, the attack was carried out by a rogue member of the Afghan army who was a Taliban sympathizer.
“Those who fell yesterday were far from home and close to the enemy, doing the hard work that must be done to protect our country from terrorism,” stated CIA Director Leon E. Panetta in a message to agency employees.
Panetta said that because of the sensitive nature of the agents’ mission and ongoing operations, their names and details of their work would not be released. It is the largest number of CIA agents killed at one time since the 1983 U.S. Embassy bombing in Beirut.
U.S. military doctors and nurses were lauded by the CIA for saving the lives of numerous other individuals who were wounded in the attack.
President Obama sent his condolences in a letter to CIA officers on Thursday. “These brave Americans were part of a long line of patriots who have made great sacrifices for their fellow citizens, and for our way of life,” stated President Obama.
The letter also credited the work of CIA agents for disrupting terrorist plots, saving lives, and making U.S. allies more secure in the years since 9/11.
