Betrayed by Their Own Asset: How Dr. al-Balawi Fooled The CIA and Killed 7 Of Its Agents
Ujasusi Blog Tradecraft Desk | 27 August 2025 | 0125 BST
The December 30, 2009 suicide bombing at Camp Chapman in Afghanistan represents one of the most devastating intelligence failures in CIA history. Dr. Humam Khalil al-Balawi, a Jordanian physician turned triple agent, successfully infiltrated the CIA's counterterrorism operations, resulting in the deaths of seven CIA officers and three other personnel. This comprehensive analysis examines the operational failures, deception tactics, and strategic implications that continue to shape modern intelligence practices.