imported>SmartyPants22: removed Category:Military installations closed in 2021; added Category:Military installations established in 2001 using HotCat

2025-08-12T00:49:44Z

removed Category:Military installations closed in 2021; added Category:Military installations established in 2001 using HotCat

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{{Short description|US military/CIA base in Khost province, Afghanistan (2001–13)}}
{{for|the 2009 suicide attack on the CIA facility|Camp Chapman attack}}
{{Infobox Military Structure
| name = FOB Chapman
| ensign=
| ensign_size=
| location = [[Khost province]]
| country = Afghanistan
| pushpin_map = Afghanistan
| pushpin_label = FOB Chapman
| pushpin_map_caption = Shown within Afghanistan
| coordinates = {{Coord|33|20|19.5|N|69|57|21.4|E||display=inline,title}}
| image = [[File:19th sf CO at Chapman July 02.JPG|250px]]
| image_size =
| caption = U.S. Army Soldiers and contractors pose for a photograph at FOB Chapman in July 2002
| type = [[Forward operating base]]
| built = {{Start date|2001}}
| builder =
| used = 2001-{{End date|2013}}
| materials =
| ownership = Department of Defense / CIA
| operator = [[United States Army]]<BR>[[Central Intelligence Agency]]
| garrison =
| current_commander =
| battles =
}}
'''[[Forward Operating Base]] Chapman''', also known as '''Camp Chapman''', was a U.S. installation situated in [[Khost province]], [[Afghanistan]], on an airstrip 2 miles east of [[Khost]]. It was opened by the United States Army and extensively used by the [[Central Intelligence Agency]].

Prior to the arrival of U.S. forces in 2001 it had been used by the [[Afghan Armed Forces]].
The site was also used by the [[Central Intelligence Agency]] and was near [[Forward Operating Base Salerno]], a large U.S. Army base.<ref name="NYT Loyalties">{{cite news|last1=Oppel|first1=Richard A.|last2=Mazzetti|first2=Mark|last3=Mekhennet|first3=Souad|newspaper=New York Times|title=Behind Afghan Bombing, an Agent With Many Loyalties|date=January 4, 2010|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/05/world/asia/05cia.html|accessdate=January 5, 2010}}</ref><ref name="Washington Post Airstrikes">{{cite news|last1=Warrick |first1=Joby | last2=Constable |first2=Pamela |author2-link=Pamela Constable |newspaper=Washington Post|title=CIA base attacked in Afghanistan supported airstrikes against al-Qaeda, Taliban|date=January 1, 2010|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/12/31/AR2009123100541.html?hpid=topnews|accessdate=January 1, 2010}}</ref> The base was named for Sergeant First Class [[Nathan Chapman (soldier)|Nathan Chapman]], the first U.S. soldier killed by enemy fire during the Afghanistan war, in 2002.<ref name="Washington Post Airstrikes"/><ref name=McClatchy>{{cite news|last=Youssef|first=Nancy A.|publisher=McClatchy|title=Taliban infiltrator who killed 7 from CIA wore Afghan uniform|date=December 31, 2009|url=http://www.mcclatchydc.com/227/story/81543.html|accessdate=January 1, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100104211725/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/227/story/81543.html|archive-date=January 4, 2010|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref name=NYDN>{{cite news|last=Meek|first=James Gordon|journal=New York Daily News|title=Suicide bombing at CIA camp in Afghanistan likely revenge attack by Taliban warlord – a former ally|date=January 1, 2010|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/2010/01/01/2010-01-01_suicide_bombing_at_cia_camp_in_afghanistan_likely_revenge_attack_by_taliban_warl.html|accessdate=January 1, 2010}}</ref><ref name="NYT Mazzetti">{{cite news|last=Mazzetti|first=Mark|journal=New York Times|title=C.I.A. Takes On Bigger and Riskier Role on Front Lines|date=December 31, 2009|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/01/world/asia/01khost.html|accessdate=January 1, 2010}}</ref> Chapman was killed while fighting alongside the CIA.<ref name=NYDN/>

==History==
[[File:Camp Chapman 82nd Army Soldier 2002.png|thumb|left|200px|A U.S. Army soldier from the 82nd Airborne Division looks down his M4 carbine's sights outside Camp Chapman in 2002.]]
The CIA's base in Khost was set up at the beginning of the U.S.-led offensive against al-Qaeda and the Taliban in 2001, and began as an improvised center for operations.<ref name="WSJ Devastates">{{cite news|last=Gorman|first=Siobhan|journal=Wall Street Journal|title=Suicide Bombing in Afghanistan Devastates Critical Hub for CIA Activities|date=January 1, 2010|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB126225941186711671?mod=WSJ_hpp_MIDDLETopStories|accessdate=January 1, 2010}}</ref> A military base at the beginning, it was later transformed into a CIA base, a U.S. official said.<ref name="AP Director">{{cite news|last=Shah|first=Amir|publisher=Associated Press|title=CIA Director: 7 CIA Workers Killed In Afghanistan|date=December 31, 2009|url=http://kdka.com/wireapnational/Taliban.claim.suicide.2.1398406.html|accessdate=January 1, 2010}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> According to a U.S. military source, Forward Operating Base Chapman was also used as a base for the Khost [[Provincial Reconstruction Team]] (PRT), a military-led development group.<ref name="Times">{{cite news|last=Starkey|first=Jerome|journal=The Times|title=Afghan suicide bomber kills seven CIA agents after attacking base|date=January 1, 2001|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/Afghanistan/article6972266.ece|archive-url=http://wayback.vefsafn.is/wayback/20100416193146/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/Afghanistan/article6972266.ece|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 16, 2010|accessdate=January 2, 2009}} </ref> According to an individual who was in the PRT and took part in the relocation; this team left in 2011 and moved to FOB Salerno.<ref name="CNN Contractors">{{cite news|publisher=CNN|title=Source: 2 killed in Afghanistan bombing were security contractors|date=December 31, 2009|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/12/31/afghanistan.us.casualties/|accessdate=January 1, 2010}}</ref><ref name="WSJ Retaliation">{{cite news|last=Gopal|first=Anand|journal=Wall Street Journal|title=Taliban: CIA Attack Was Retaliation for Drone Strikes|date=January 2, 2010|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB126246258911313617|accessdate=January 2, 2010}}</ref> In recent years, the base, one of the most secretive and highly guarded locations in Afghanistan, evolved into a major counterterrorism hub of the CIA's paramilitary [[Special Activities Division]], used for joint operation with CIA, military special operations forces and Afghan allies, and had a housing compound for U.S. intelligence officers.<ref name="Washington Post Airstrikes"/><ref name="WSJ Devastates"/><ref name=Independent>{{cite news|last=Sengupta|first=Kim|journal=The Independent|title=Suicide attack inflicts worst death toll on CIA in 25 years|date=January 1, 2010|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/suicide-attack-inflicts-worst-death-toll-on-cia-in-25-years-1854762.html|accessdate=January 1, 2010}}</ref><ref name=Figaro>{{cite news|last=Smith|first=Adèle|journal=Le Figaro|title=La CIA perd sept espions sur une base secrète|date=January 1, 2010|url=http://www.lefigaro.fr/international/2010/01/02/01003-20100102ARTFIG00141-la-cia-perd-sept-espions-sur-une-base-secrete-.php|accessdate=January 2, 2010}}</ref>

On Wednesday, December 30, 2009, the [[Camp Chapman attack]] was executed by suicide bomber [[Humam Khalil Abu-Mulal al-Balawi|Humam Khalil al-Balawi]] who was a Jordanian [[double agent]] loyal to al-Qaeda-linked [[Islamic extremism|Islamist extremists]]. Seven people employed by or affiliated with the CIA, including the chief of the base, [[Jennifer Matthews|Jennifer Lynn Matthews]]<ref>[http://theweek.com/article/index/243471/who-was-who-in-the-hunt-for-bin-laden ''Who was who in the hunt for bin Laden''], ''[[The Week]]'', April 30, 2013</ref> as well as a Jordanian intelligence officer, died in the attack. It remains the second-deadliest incident ever for the CIA after the [[1983 United States embassy bombing]]. Almost three years later, on December 26, 2012, a suicide bomber, possibly with ties to the [[Afghan Taliban]] (who claimed responsibility via a spokesman, [[Zabihullah Mujahid]], claiming those who served American forces at the base were the target) and/or the [[Haqqani network]], killed three Afghans (their status was not specified) who were outside the perimeter of the base, which is near a military airport.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/12/26/16156522-blast-in-afghan-city-of-khost-taliban-says-us-base-targeted?lite=|title=World News}}</ref>

U.S. bases in Khost, in particular Camp Salerno, have frequently been targeted by insurgents. In most cases, however, suicide attackers do not succeed in getting past the main entrance of a base.<ref name="NYT Rubin and Mazzetti">{{cite news|last1=Rubin|first1=Alissa J. |authorlink1= Alissa J. Rubin|last2=Mazzetti|first2=Mark|journal=New York Times|title=Afghan Base Hit by Attack Has Pivotal Role in Conflict|date=December 31, 2009|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/01/world/asia/01afghan.html|accessdate=January 1, 2010}}</ref> According to U.S. officials, Forward Operating Base Chapman appears to have implemented less stringent security measures than other U.S. military bases, aiming at establishing trust with informants.<ref name="WSJ Strategy">{{cite news|last1=Gorman|first1=Siobhan|last2=Dreazen|first2=Yochi J.|authorlink2=Yochi Dreazen|journal=Wall Street Journal|title=Killings Rock Afghan Strategy|date=January 2, 2010|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB126239278820413095|accessdate=January 2, 2010}}</ref> Subjecting informants to mistrust and excessive suspicion would reduce the amount of information received from them.<ref name="Times India Tribesman">{{cite news|last=Rajghatta|first=Chidanand|title=Pak tribesman killed 7 CIA agents and trust|date=January 3, 2010|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/Pak-tribesman-killed-7-CIA-agents-and-trust/articleshow/5407756.cms|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111217082850/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-01-03/us/28140667_1_suicide-bomber-suicide-blast-cia|url-status=live|archive-date=December 17, 2011|journal=[[The Times of India]]|access-date=January 3, 2010}}</ref>

In 2021, in the lead-up to the [[Withdrawal of United States troops from Afghanistan (2021)|withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan]], the Taliban twice targeted the base. In the first attack rockets landed nearby wounding seven civilians. During the second attack a water tower on the base was hit, but no U.S. personnel were hit.<ref name=cnn-20210408>{{cite news |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2021/04/08/politics/taliban-attack-afghanistan-covert-base-biden-withdrawal-decision/index.html |title=Taliban attack on covert US base in Afghanistan complicates Biden withdrawal decision |last1=Starr |first1=Barbara |last2=Cohen |first2=Zachary |last3=Atwood |first3=Kylie |last4=Liptak |first4=Kevin |publisher=CNN |date=8 April 2021 |access-date=10 July 2021}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Military installations of the United States in Afghanistan]]
[[Category:Installations of the Central Intelligence Agency]]
[[Category:Military installations established in 2001]]
[[Category:Military camps in Afghanistan]]

Forward Operating Base Chapman - Revision history

imported>SmartyPants22: removed Category:Military installations closed in 2021; added Category:Military installations established in 2001 using HotCat