CNN reported that the US embassy in Kabul issued a memo instructing employees to destroy "sensitive materials" in light of US intelligence assessments of the Taliban's imminent control of the Afghan capital.
The memo comes at a time when the embassy is preparing to withdraw a large number of diplomats and with the continued deterioration of the security situation on the ground in Afghanistan.
And the network quotes a diplomatic source as saying that one of the intelligence assessments indicates that Kabul may be isolated by the Taliban within a week, and possibly within the next 72 hours.
The diplomatic source said the memo required workers to destroy items "that could be misused in propaganda efforts" including papers, electronics and flags.
But the US Department of Defense (Pentagon) said that Kabul did not appear to face "an imminent danger" despite the rapid progress made by Taliban fighters in Afghanistan.
The Pentagon did not hide its concern about the situation on the ground, but stressed that the Afghan forces are now bearing the responsibility.
The ministry announced that the forces sent to Kabul to evacuate the diplomats will reach the majority by next Sunday.
And US Defense Department spokesman John Kirby announced the arrival of the first US Marines to Kabul Airport as part of a mission that President Joe Biden issued - yesterday, Thursday - an order to implement in conjunction with the completion of US forces withdrawing from the country.
Kirby said he expects the majority of the 3,000 items to arrive by the end of the week.