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CIA Identified Two Hijackers Months Before 9/11

Feb 12, 2026 February 12, 2026 1 min read 📰 VOA Persian
📋 Key Takeaway

The CIA identified two hijackers involved in the 9/11 attacks months before the incident but failed to share this information with the FBI. This oversight is believed to have hindered the FBI's ability to prevent the attacks. The situation raises concerns about inter-agency communication and cooperation.

🔍 Quick Context Guide
💡 Bottom Line: The failure of the CIA to share critical intelligence with the FBI before 9/11 raises serious questions about inter-agency cooperation and national security.

👥 Key Players

CIA MENTIONED
Central Intelligence Agency
"The CIA is crucial for national security intelligence and counterterrorism efforts, impacting U.S. relations with Iran and broader Middle Eastern dynamics."
FBI MENTIONED
Federal Bureau of Investigation
"The FBI is responsible for domestic intelligence and law enforcement, and its effectiveness is vital for preventing terrorist activities, including those linked to Iran."
John Ashcroft MENTIONED
U.S. Attorney General at the time
"As the head of the Department of Justice, Ashcroft's statements and policies shaped the U.S. response to terrorism and inter-agency cooperation."

📰 What Happened

The CIA identified two hijackers involved in the 9/11 attacks months prior but failed to inform the FBI, which could have potentially prevented the attacks. This oversight highlights significant issues in inter-agency communication.

  • The CIA had knowledge of the hijackers' connection to al-Qaeda.
  • A warning memo was sent to the FBI only in late August, after which the FBI's search for the hijackers was unsuccessful.

💡 Why It Matters

🇮🇷 For Iran: This situation underscores the complexities of U.S. intelligence operations, which could influence Iran's perception of U.S. capabilities and intentions.
🌍 Regional: The failure to prevent the attacks may affect regional stability and the U.S.'s approach to counterterrorism in the Middle East, including its relations with Iran.
🌐 International: Internationally, this raises concerns about intelligence sharing and cooperation among agencies, impacting global counterterrorism strategies.

📚 Background

The September 11 attacks were a pivotal moment in U.S. history, leading to significant changes in national security policy and international relations, particularly in the Middle East.

U.S.-Iran relations Counterterrorism policies
📡 Source: INTERNATIONAL
📊 Confidence: 70%
Newsweek is a well-known publication, but its reporting should be viewed in the context of ongoing debates about intelligence failures and national security.

A U.S. weekly magazine reports that the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) identified two of the hijackers involved in the September 11 terrorist attacks months before they occurred, but never passed this information on to the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation). According to Newsweek, the CIA even knew that these two individuals were connected to Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda network and were present in the U.S. Newsweek states that the FBI now believes that had it received information about these two men earlier, it could have uncovered the entire terrorist plot. The report indicates that the CIA eventually sent a warning memo in late August, which led FBI agents to futilely search for the two men. U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft responded to this news by stating that he had not yet closely reviewed the report and added that the U.S. needs to foster greater cooperation between the FBI and CIA. The Attorney General defended the recent delegation of investigative powers to the FBI, and U.S. officials have not yet reacted to Newsweek's article, which was published in today’s issue.

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Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →

Translation confidence: 85%

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