The buzz of a drone in the night sky warned residents of the Afghan village of Omar Khail that trouble was coming.
Soldiers speaking Pashto and English moved toward the madrassa, or religious school, where more than two dozen boys slept. interc.pt/2KeFj4s
Soldiers speaking Pashto and English moved toward the madrassa, or religious school, where more than two dozen boys slept. interc.pt/2KeFj4s
“Wake up!” yelled an Afghan soldier bursting through the door of a dormitory, pointing at the boys one by one with the barrel of his rifle.
In preparation for death, some boys recited the Muslim declaration of faith. Then the sound of automatic gunfire tore along the corridor.
In preparation for death, some boys recited the Muslim declaration of faith. Then the sound of automatic gunfire tore along the corridor.
When the sun rose hours later, 12 boys, their bodies mauled by bullets, lay crumpled on the floor.
The massacre at Omar Khail that winter night was among at least 10 previously undocumented night raids in the central Afghan province of Wardak.
The massacre at Omar Khail that winter night was among at least 10 previously undocumented night raids in the central Afghan province of Wardak.
Beginning in December 2018 and continuing for at least a year, Afghan operatives believed to belong to an elite CIA-trained paramilitary unit known as 01 unleashed a campaign of terror against civilians.
At least 51 civilians were killed in the 10 raids, according to The Intercept’s reporting.
In most cases, men and boys as young as 8, few of whom appear to have had any formal relationship with the Taliban, were summarily executed.
In most cases, men and boys as young as 8, few of whom appear to have had any formal relationship with the Taliban, were summarily executed.
The units’ American CIA advisers both train Afghan unit members and accompany them on the ground during raids.
The Afghans and Americans are ferried to remote villages at night by American helicopters, and American assault aircraft hover overhead while they conduct their raids.
The Afghans and Americans are ferried to remote villages at night by American helicopters, and American assault aircraft hover overhead while they conduct their raids.
The Intercept shared its findings about the raids with Afghanistan's national security adviser, Hamdullah Mohib, in the fall of 2019.
“No one has reported” these attacks, said Mohib, adding that 01 “is a unit that operates, as you know, in partnership with the CIA.”
“No one has reported” these attacks, said Mohib, adding that 01 “is a unit that operates, as you know, in partnership with the CIA.”
American advisers “have complete information on [the] targets,” referred to as “jackpots.”
All targets are ultimately chosen by the CIA, unit members say.
“Whatever the foreigners say, we do.”
All targets are ultimately chosen by the CIA, unit members say.
“Whatever the foreigners say, we do.”
The period in which The Intercept documented the escalation of violence in Wardak falls neatly between the first round of formal U.S.-Taliban talks in late 2018 and the signing of the Doha agreement early this year.
The rate of 01 raids fell dramatically after the peace deal.
The rate of 01 raids fell dramatically after the peace deal.
The units occupy a shadowy area outside of official Afghan government control. Even if regular U.S. forces pull out, the CIA could maintain the operational capacity of some of its Afghan surrogate units.
Only the U.S. president has authority over American covert actions.
Only the U.S. president has authority over American covert actions.
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