# CIA declassification of pre-9/11 intelligence briefings > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/cia-declassification-of-pre-911-intelligence-briefings > Updated: 2026-09-13T00:15:16.000Z. Sources: 143. Developments: 2. On the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, the CIA released 71 declassified Presidential Daily Briefings (PDB) spanning from February 1998 to September 12, 2001. CIA Director John Ratcliffe described the release as an “act of exceptional transparency,” marking the agency’s largest declassification of these specific briefings since the 2004 9/11 Commission Report. The documents provide a detailed record of intelligence regarding Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda. Key findings include warnings that the group might use explosive-laden aircraft to strike American cities, bin Laden’s interest in chemical, biological, and radioactive weapons, and his efforts to acquire highly enriched uranium. Intelligence also tracked bin Laden’s financing, movements, and support networks. Furthermore, the briefings highlight the Taliban’s reluctance to surrender bin Laden in Afghanistan and note that by September 12, 2001, sources believed the attacks had been planned for two years and may have also targeted the U.S. Capitol. While the files establish a continuous trail of warnings, they also indicate that intelligence officials faced difficulties in determining the exact timing and scale of the eventual attacks. ## Timeline ### 2026-09-13: CIA declassifies presidential briefings on bin Laden and al-Qaida The CIA has released dozens of declassified Presidential Daily Briefs from 1998 to 2001, detailing intelligence on Osama bin Laden and al-Qaida's activities prior to the September 11 attacks. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/cia-declassifies-presidential-briefings-on-bin-laden-and-al-qaida ### 2026-09-11: CIA declassifies 71 intelligence briefings regarding pre-9/11 Al-Qaeda threats The CIA has declassified 71 Presidential Daily Briefings from 1998 to 2001, revealing early warnings about Al-Qaeda's intent to strike the U.S. using hijacked planes or explosives. 139 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/cia-declassifies-intelligence-reports-warning-of-al-qaeda-aircraft-threats --- Cite as: CIA declassification of pre-9/11 intelligence briefings. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/cia-declassification-of-pre-911-intelligence-briefings