Event
The CIA released 71 presidential daily briefs from 1998 to 12 September 2001 showing that US leaders were warned about Osama bin Laden, al-Qaeda, planned attacks inside the United States, aircraft hijacking and unconventional weapons. The documents provide a record of accumulating warnings but do not identify the timing, method or targets of the 9/11 attacks.
2 published stories · security · source reliability 33%
Seventy-one presidential briefs record warnings about al-Qaeda, planned attacks in the United States, aircraft hijacking and unconventional weapons, but do not establish precise prior knowledge of the attacks.
Background
The CIA released 71 presidential daily briefs covering February 1998 to 12 September 2001. The 101 pages, many partially redacted, document warnings to US leaders about Osama bin Laden, al-Qaeda networks and financing, planned attacks in the United States, aircraft hijacking and attempts to obtain unconventional weapons. The release adds a documentary record of accumulating warnings, but does not identify the timing, method or targets of the 11 September attacks, which killed nearly 3,000 people. The best-known 6 August 2001 brief, “Bin Ladin Determined To Strike in US”, was previously declassified in 2004.
The CIA released 71 presidential daily briefs covering February 1998 to 12 September 2001. The 101 pages, many partially redacted, document warnings to US leaders about Osama bin Laden, al-Qaeda networks and financing, planned attacks in the United States, aircraft hijacking and
Fact cards
Key entities: Central Intelligence Agency, Osama bin Laden, al-Qaeda, CIA, Bill Clinton, John Ratcliffe.
What has the CIA released? 71 presidential daily briefs comprising 101 pages, with many sections partially redacted. What threats do the documents describe? Warnings about bin Laden and al-Qaeda, attacks in the United States, aircraft hijacking, networks and financing, and unconv
Al Jazeera Global News | https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/9/12/what-did-us-intelligence-know-before-the-9-11 | published 2026-09-12T09:30:51.000Z | primary source | Al Jazeera Global News | Primary report on the CIA release, briefing contents and limitations. | Event digest |
February 1998: The released presidential daily brief collection begins. 6 August 2001: The brief “Bin Ladin Determined To Strike in US” was issued; it was declassified in 2004. 11 September 2001: Al-Qaeda militants carried out attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people. 12 September
Timeline
The released presidential daily brief collection begins.
The brief “Bin Ladin Determined To Strike in US” was issued; it was declassified in 2004.
Al-Qaeda militants carried out attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people.
The released collection ends.
The CIA release of 71 briefs was reported.
FAQ
71 presidential daily briefs comprising 101 pages, with many sections partially redacted.
Warnings about bin Laden and al-Qaeda, attacks in the United States, aircraft hijacking, networks and financing, and unconventional weapons.
No. The material does not identify the attacks’ timing, method or targets.
A briefing titled “Bin Ladin Determined To Strike in US”, declassified in 2004.
Several dozen declassified presidential daily briefs about bin Laden and al-Qaeda.
February 1998 to 12 September 2001, with material relating to the period after the attacks.
Threats to US targets, financing, operations, hijacking preparations and radioactive materials.
The supplied material says they reportedly do not.
Many documents are redacted and the source does not independently verify every assessment.