Richard A. Beck, a geologist at the University of Cincinnati informed the Department of Defense that he could identify the rocks in a videotape Osama bin Laden released in October 2001 from a field trip he had made to Khowst.
During the assault on the Zhawar Kili Cave complex, the Soviets used the Khost Airfield as an initial staging ground to insert troops into the combat zone, using Mil Mi-8 armed helicopter transport ships.