Ambassador Chris Stevens, 52, died as he and a group of embassy employees went to the consulate to try to evacuate staff as a crowd of hundreds attacked the consulate Tuesday evening, many of them firing machine-guns and rocket-propelled grenades. [39] During the war, elite counterterrorist operators from the United States Delta Force were deployed to Libya as analysts, instructing the rebels on specifics about weapons and tactics. That led Susan Rice, then U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, to inaccurately assert that the attack had evolved from a protest, when in fact there had been no protest. But the international community -- and particularly those countries that participated in the NATO-led air campaign -- has also failed to make good on its repeated promises to help Libyans rebuild their country. [129][130], However, this assessment contradicted the assessment of CIA analysts, which through September 16 maintained that "the demonstrations in Benghazi were spontaneously inspired by the protests at the U.S. Embassy in Cairo," at which violent protesters had scaled the embassy walls. [155] A 2012 Gallup poll noted that "A majority of Libyans (54%) surveyed in March and April 2012 approve of the leadership of the U.S.among the highest approval Gallup has ever recorded in the region, outside of Israel. [162][163] Protesters burnt a car and a building of at least one facility, and looted weapons. An error occurred while subscribing your email address. A Libyan man was sentenced to more than 19 years in prison on Thursday for his role in the 2012 terrorist attack on two U.S. government facilities in Benghazi that killed four Americans. So goes one of the grim scenes recreated in Michael Bay's new film 13 Hours, which tells the story of the attack that shattered the West's hopes for post-Gaddafi Libya, and sparked another toxic . Haftar's forces renewed their air strikes on Islamist militia bases on June 1, triggering clashes that injured dozens and resulted in the deaths of at least eight people. Share this via WhatsApp The attack allegedly brought an end to the purported United States involvement, but did not stop the smuggling according to Hersh's source. CHRIS HONDROS, an American photographer whose work has appeared in The Economist, has been killed in Libya. These teams were sent to Naval Air Station Sigonella in Sicily, Italy as a staging point on the night of the attack but did not deploy to Benghazi. [17] Carrying signs with slogans such as "We Want Justice For Chris" and "Libya Lost a Friend", the protestors stormed several militia headquarters, including that of Ansar al-Sharia, an Islamist militia who some allege played a role in the attack on U.S. diplomatic personnel on September 11. "[74][202] He referred to Innocence of Muslims as "a crude and disgusting video [that] sparked outrage throughout the Muslim world". When did he know it? An American school teacher, seven Egyptian Copts, a couple from New Zealand and Britain, and a French engineer have all been killed in Benghazi during the last six months. While this intelligence was effectively shared within the Intelligence Community (IC) and with key officials at the Department of State, it did not lead to a commensurate increase in security at Benghazi nor to a decision to close the American mission there, either of which would have been more than justified by the intelligence presented. [259] No further public investigations have been conducted since. The failure of authorities to deal with the violence now threatens to bring about a total collapse of Libya's key institutions. For example, the Republican-controlled House Intelligence Committee "did not conclude that Rice or any other government official acted in bad faith or intentionally misled the American people," according to the Associated Press. Kirkpatrick reported that Ansar al-Sharia said they were launching the assault in retaliation for the release of the anti-Islamic video, Innocence of Muslims. Salafist militants have targeted Sufis and their shrines in Libya since the overthrow of the late leader Muammar Qaddafi in 2011. His credibility was reduced,' Hicks said, adding that the president was apparently 'still steamed' two weeks later. [104] The doctor said he believed that officers from the Libyan Interior Ministry transported the body to the airport. There are indications that extremists participated in the violent demonstrations. 30,000 Libyans marched through Benghazi condemning Ansar al-Sharia, which had been formed during the 2011 Libyan civil war to topple Muammar Gaddafi. [13][14] The Libyan Government condemned the attacks and took steps to disband the militias. He said, "I have made it clear that the United States government had nothing to do with this video, and I believe its message must be rejected by all who respect our common humanity. [180] The destroyers are equipped with Tomahawk cruise missiles. According to al-Bakoush, the Libyans saw he was alive and breathing, his eyelids flickering. [142] A few days later, on October 21, 2013, the United Nations Security Council designated the Muhammad Jamal network "as being associated with Al-Qaida". The official told CNN that he advised the diplomats, "The situation is frightening; it scares us. The latest incident took place on 28 November 2017, when Zawiyat Sheikha Radiya Mosque - a historic Sufi site in the capital Tripoli - was torched by unknown attackers. According to officials, the release of the unredacted documents compromised the identities of several Libyans working with the U.S. government and placed their lives in danger. There have been at least 12 attacks against media headquarters in Tripoli, Benghazi, and Derna, in addition to dozens of threats, assaults, and kidnappings of journalists this year alone. "[128] However, on the same day of the Clinton phone call, Ansar al-Sharia issued a statement saying it "didn't participate as a sole entity; rather, it was a spontaneous popular uprising in response to what happened by the West," an apparent reference to the release of the video. He was released by Libyan authorities on June 12, 2013, based on claims there was a lack of evidence to hold him in custody. "That this was an act of terror, and I also said that we're going to hunt down those who committed this crime. custody.[104]. Libyan newspaper The Tripoli Post noted that Libya's National Congress also condemned the attack, saying it "led to the regrettable injury and death . 2848; 113th Congress). We will not waver in our commitment to see that justice is done for this terrible act. From top to bottom, left to right: President, Vice President updated on situation night of September 11, 2012; President Obama, with Secretary Clinton, delivering statement in the Rose Garden, September 12, 2012; two photographs released through a FOIA request; Secretary Clinton testifying before the Senate Committee on January 23, 2013; portion of "wanted" poster seeking information on the attack. In the immediate aftermath of the attack, intelligence about who carried it out and why was contradictory, the report found. Ambassador to the U.N. Susan Rice appeared on five major interview shows to discuss the attacks. [115], David Kirkpatrick of The New York Times reported that 20-year-old neighbor Mohamed Bishari witnessed the attack. [145] Al-Shibli was detained after he returned from a trip to Pakistan, though his exact role in the attack is unclear. Share this via Reddit But that has now changed: The victims now include journalists and activists who opposed former dictator Muammar al-Qaddafi during the 2011 uprising, but who dare to criticize the militias, Libya's new masters. Friday is not only a day for solemn memorials for the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks but it's also the somber anniversary of the Benghazi attack that killed four Americans. GOP legislators also took issue with delays in the investigation, which CNN attributed to "bureaucratic infighting" between the FBI, Justice, and State. In January 2020, Libyan national Mustafa al-Imam was sentenced to more than 19 . Timeline of 9/11 Consulate Attack As It Unfolds. Over 25,738 migrants and asylum seekers arrived in Italy and Malta from January to mid-September, 11,295 of whom had departed from Libya, according to the IOM. [40]:58 By the time of the attack, a composite U.S. Special Operations team with two JSOC members was already in Libya working on their mission profile independently of the CIA and State Department operations. [105] From Germany, the four bodies arrived at Andrews Air Force Base near Washington, D.C., where President Barack Obama and members of his cabinet held a ceremony in honor of those killed. "What are they [the government] waiting for?" After the attack, all diplomatic staff were moved to the capital, Tripoli, with nonessential personnel to be flown out of Libya. [1] The Pentagon ordered an unmanned aerial vehicle that was in the air conducting surveillance on militant camps to fly over Benghazi. Two former Navy SEALs who were among four Americans killed last week in an attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya, died after rushing to the aid of their colleagues, according to sources . More than 100 people have died over four days of anti-government protests in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi as Colonel Muammar Gaddafi confronts the most serious challenge to his 42-year rule . [91], Just after midnight, the CIA annex came under machine gun, rocket and mortar fire. The violence is also spreading: The capital has witnessed several assassinations and attacks on security forces, while the northeastern city of Sirte has also been wracked by violence. There are no protesters at this . It's approximately 120 square miles and has a population of about 632,000 people. [215], On CBS's Face the Nation on October 28, Senator John McCain (R-AZ) stated that "this is either a massive cover-up or incompetence" and suggested that it was a scandal worse than Watergate. Films can be used as powerful political weapons - and director Michael Bay's latest film, 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi, is a case in point . President Obama responded, "The day after the attack, governor, I stood in the Rose Garden and I told the American people and the world that we are going to find out exactly what happened," Obama said. [8], The Brigades of the Imprisoned Sheikh Omar Abdul Rahman, a pro-al-Qaeda militia calling for the release of The Blind Sheikh, was implicated in the attack by Noman Benotman of the Quilliam Foundation. A freelance videographer, Fahd al-Bakoush, later published a video[97][98] showing Libyans trying to extract the ambassador from a smoke-filled room,[99][100] where he was found unconscious. [258] It criticized the actions and speed of response of the State Department, and the Defense Department, leading up to and during the attacks in Benghazi. The team then decided to return to the annex with the survivors and Smith's body. [+] following an overnight attack on the building. After the first five Republican investigations found no evidence of wrongdoing by senior Obama administration officials, Republicans in 2014 opened a sixth investigation, the House Select Committee on Benghazi, chaired by Trey Gowdy. Fox News was subsequently criticized for cutting the interview short. He further stated he was the commander of an Islamist brigade, Abu Obaida ibn al-Jarrah, some of whose members had joined Ansar al-Sharia. "[251][252], There were ten investigations into the Benghazi matter: one by the FBI; one by an independent board commissioned by the State Department; two by Democrat-controlled Senate Committees; and six by Republican-controlled House Committees. And make no mistake, justice will be done. To send an unambiguous signal, it should add Libyan officials and militia leaders responsible for serious human rights abuses to the U.N. sanctions list, as envisioned in U.N. Security Council Resolution 1970. Our embassy was attacked violently, and the result was four deaths of American officials. [17], On September 23, taking advantage of the growing momentum and rising anger against the militias evinced in the earlier anti-militia demonstrations,[165] the Libyan president declared that all unauthorized militias had 48 hours to either disband or come under government control. and Obama 2012 Campaign", "Judicial Watch: Benghazi Documents Point to White House on Misleading Talking Points", "Benghazi emails: Proof Obama White House put politics ahead of truth", "Documents obtained through FOIA No. Attackers set the U.S. mission in Benghazi, Libya, on fire on September 11, 2012. [235], President Obama called the criticism a "sideshow"[236] and later accused Congress of "taking its eye off the ball" on the subject of the economy and focusing on "phony scandals". No casualties were reported. At the time, they were informed that the attack was a "terrorist attack". Libyan officials should make every effort to support the justice sector and keep the prosecutions ongoing -- and the international community should help them. Ahmed Shams, a 22-year-old arts student, told the Associated Press that they were happy when they found Stevens alive and tried to rescue him. The committee held a hearing to continue its investigation on the attack that killed Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other Americans at the diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya, on the . The protesters called for Qaddafi to step down and for the release of political prisoners. I think it's clear that there were extremist elements that joined in and escalated the violence. On September 26, Senator Johnny Isakson (R-Georgia) said he "cannot believe that the FBI is not on the ground yet". The bodies were taken to Benina International Airport and flown to the capital, Tripoli, and then to Ramstein Air Base in Germany aboard a C-17 military transport aircraft. [162][163] At least 10 people were killed and dozens more wounded as militiamen fired on demonstrators at the headquarters of Sahaty Brigade, a pro-government militia "operating under the authority of the ministry of defence". [179], On September 12, it was reported that the United States Navy dispatched two Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, USSMcFaul and USSLaboon, to the Libyan coast. Ibrahim al-Sanussi Agilah, head of intelligence for the eastern region, was gunned down in his car on May 8. So, again, that's self-evident. The head of the ICRC's delegation in Libya said the aid group was "appalled" by the attack and "extremely concerned" about escalating violence in Libya. Stevens was visiting Benghazi at the time to review plans to establish a new cultural center and modernize a hospital. [16][163][164], By early next morning, the protestors had forced militia members to flee and seized control of a number of compounds, releasing four prisoners found inside. "[193] On the same day, during an appearance on Univision, a Spanish-language television network in the United States, President Obama stated, "What we do know is that the natural protests that arose because of the outrage over the video were used as an excuse by extremists to see if they can also directly harm U.S. September 11, 2012: 9:43 a.m. Benghazi time (3:43 ET): Amb. [24] Khattala has been described by both Libyan and United States officials as the Benghazi leader of Ansar al-Sharia. and cars are engulfed in flames after being set on fire inside the U.S. consulate compound in Benghazi, Libya . Since security is a key factor, it is vital to significantly strengthen the judicial police, responsible for protecting prisons and courtrooms. But soon after that spontaneous protest began outside of our consulate in Benghazi, we believe that it looks like extremist elements, individuals, joined in that in that effort with heavy weapons of the sort that are, unfortunately, readily now available in Libya post-revolution. [87][88], Diplomatic Security Service agents/Regional Security Officers informed their headquarters in Washington about the attack just as it was beginning at about 9:40p.m. local time (3:40p.m. Eastern Time (ET)). Hearing before the Committee on Foreign Affairs, House of Representatives, One Hundred Thirteenth Congress, First Session, September 18, 2013, Reviews of the Benghazi Attacks and Unanswered Questions: Hearing before the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, House of Representatives, One Hundred Thirteenth Congress, First Session, September 19, 2013, Report of the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Review of the Terrorist Attacks on U.S. Facilities in Benghazi, Libya, September 1112, 2012 Together with Additional Views, January 15, 2014, Hearing 1: Hearing before the Select Committee on the Events Surrounding the 2012 Terrorist Attacks in Benghazi, Libya, House of Representatives, One Hundred Thirteenth Congress, Second Session, held in Washington, DC, September 17, 2014, Hearing 2: Hearing before the Select Committee on the Events Surrounding the 2012 Terrorist Attacks in Benghazi, Libya, House of Representatives, One Hundred Thirteenth Congress, Second Session, held in Washington, DC, December 10, 2014, Hearing 3: Hearing before the Select Committee on the Events Surrounding the 2012 Terrorist Attacks in Benghazi, House of Representatives, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, First Session, held in Washington, DC, January 27, 2015, Hearing 4: Hearing before the Select Committee on the Events Surrounding the 2012 Terrorist Attacks in Benghazi, House of Representatives, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, First Session, held in Washington, DC, October 22, 2015, September 2012 southern Israel cross-border attack, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=2012_Benghazi_attack&oldid=1149756452, Attacks on diplomatic missions of the United States, Pages containing links to subscription-only content, Wikipedia indefinitely semi-protected pages, Wikipedia articles needing clarification from August 2016, Wikipedia articles needing factual verification from September 2021, Articles with unsourced statements from September 2022, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, United States diplomatic post and CIA annex, This page was last edited on 14 April 2023, at 07:17. On May 30, 2013, it was reported that the Republican National Committee filed a FOIA for "any and all emails or other documents containing the terms 'Libya' and/or 'Benghazi' dated between September 11, 2012 and November 7, 2012 directed from or to U.S. Department of State employees originating from, or addressed to, persons whose email addresses end in either 'barackobama.com' or 'dnc.org'". [132] On Sept. 11, 2012, heavily armed Islamist militants launched an organized attack on the U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi, Libya, setting fire to buildings before all U.S . Also on September 20, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton gave a classified briefing to U.S. [82], According to the Annex Security Team, they had become aware of the consulate attack after 9:30p.m. local time, and were ready to respond; however, they were delayed by "the top CIA officer in Benghazi". Every effort to support the justice sector and keep the prosecutions ongoing and. 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