Global Information2012 Benghazi attack information
| 2012 Benghazi attack | |
|---|---|
| Part of the inter-civil war violence in Libya | |
 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. | |
| Location | Benghazi, Libya |
| Date | September 11–12, 2012 21:40 – 04:15 EET (UTC+02:00) |
| Target | United States diplomatic post and CIA annex |
Attack type | Coordinated attack, armed assault, arson |
| Weapons | Rocket-propelled grenades, hand grenades, assault rifles, 14.5 mm anti-aircraft machine guns, truck mounted artillery, diesel canisters, mortars |
| Deaths | US Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens; USFS officer Sean Smith; CIA contractors Tyrone S. Woods and Glen Doherty; unknown number of Libyan attackers[clarification needed] |
| Injured | 3 Americans, 7 Libyans |
| Perpetrators |
|
The 2012 Benghazi attack was a coordinated attack against two United States government facilities in Benghazi, Libya, by members of the Islamic militant group Ansar al-Sharia.
On September 11, 2012, at 9:40 p.m. local time, members of Ansar al-Sharia attacked the American diplomatic compound in Benghazi resulting in the deaths of both United States Ambassador to Libya J. Christopher Stevens and U.S. Foreign Service Information Management Officer Sean Smith.[1][2]
At around 4:00 a.m. on September 12, the group launched a mortar attack against a CIA annex approximately one mile (1.6 km) away, killing two CIA contractors Tyrone S. Woods and Glen Doherty[2][3][4] and wounding ten others. Initial analysis by the CIA, repeated by top government officials, indicated that the attack spontaneously arose from a protest.[5] Subsequent investigations showed that the attack was premeditated—although rioters and looters not originally part of the group may have joined in after the attacks began.[6][7][8][9]
There is no definitive evidence that al-Qaeda or any other international terrorist organization participated in the Benghazi attack.[10][11][12] The United States immediately increased security worldwide at diplomatic and military facilities and began investigating the Benghazi attack.[13][14] The Libyan Government condemned the attacks and took steps to disband the militias. 30,000 Libyans marched through Benghazi condemning Ansar al-Sharia, which had been formed during the 2011 Libyan civil war to topple Muammar Gaddafi.[15][16][17]
Despite persistent accusations against President Obama, Hillary Clinton, and Susan Rice, ten investigations—six by Republican-controlled Congressional Committees—did not find that they or any other high-ranking Obama administration officials had acted improperly.[18][19][20][21] Four career State Department officials were criticized for denying requests for additional security at the facility prior to the attack. Eric J. Boswell, the Assistant Secretary of State for Diplomatic Security, resigned under pressure, while three others were suspended.[22] In her role as Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton subsequently took responsibility for the security lapses.[23]
On August 6, 2013, it was reported that the United States had filed criminal charges against several individuals alleged to have been involved in the attacks, including militia leader Ahmed Abu Khattala.[24] Khattala has been described by both Libyan and United States officials as the Benghazi leader of Ansar al-Sharia. The United States Department of State designated Ansar al-Sharia as a terrorist organization in January 2014.[25][26][27] Khattala was captured in Libya by United States Army Special Operations Forces, who were acting in coordination with the FBI, in June 2014.[28] Another suspect, Mustafa al-Imam, was captured in October 2017.[29][30]
- ^ Review of the Terrorist Attacks on U.S. Diplomatic Facilities in Benghazi, Libya, September 11–12, 2012 (PDF) (Report). United States Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. January 15, 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 16, 2014.
- ^ a b Kaphle, Anup (June 17, 2014). "Timeline: Here's how the Benghazi attacks played out". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on December 14, 2016. Retrieved September 28, 2016.
- ^ "US officials: CIA ran Benghazi consulate". United Press International. November 2, 2012. Archived from the original on November 2, 2012. Retrieved November 2, 2012.
- ^ Aaron Blake (January 27, 2014). "Clinton says Benghazi is her biggest regret". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on July 30, 2015. Retrieved August 23, 2017.
- ^ Dilanian, Ken (November 21, 2014). "House intel panel debunks many Benghazi theories". Associated Press. Archived from the original on April 1, 2018. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
- ^
Rogin, Josh (October 9, 2012). "State Department: No Protest at the Benghazi consulate". Foreign Policy. Archived from the original on November 12, 2014. Retrieved November 11, 2014.(subscription required)
Herridge, Catherine (December 4, 2013). "CIA witnesses offer more evidence Benghazi attack planned". Fox News. Archived from the original on December 24, 2014. Retrieved November 11, 2014.
Starr, Barbara (September 27, 2012). "Panetta: Terrorists 'clearly' planned Benghazi attack". CNN. Archived from the original on February 2, 2016. Retrieved November 7, 2015.
- ^ Kirkpatrick, David D. (June 17, 2014). "Brazen Figure May Hold Key to Mysteries". The New York Times. Archived from the original on June 23, 2014. Retrieved June 21, 2014.
- ^ Kirkpatrick, David D. (October 18, 2012). "Suspect in Libya Attack, in Plain Sight, Scoffs at U.S." The New York Times. Archived from the original on June 21, 2014. Retrieved June 21, 2014.
- ^ "Exclusive:Libyan Islamist says he was at U.S. consulate during attack". Reuters. October 18, 2012. Archived from the original on October 3, 2016. Retrieved October 2, 2016.
- ^ "N.Y. Times probe finds no al-Qaeda link to Benghazi raid". USATODAY. December 28, 2013. Archived from the original on August 27, 2017. Retrieved August 23, 2017.
- ^ "New York Times report casts doubt on al Qaeda involvement in Benghazi". cnn.com. December 30, 2013. Archived from the original on December 3, 2016. Retrieved October 2, 2016.
- ^ "In Benghazi, US Intelligence Wasn't Focused On 'Homegrown Militants'". npr.com. February 26, 2014. Archived from the original on August 13, 2018. Retrieved April 3, 2018.
"Transcript: In Benghazi, US Intelligence Wasn't Focused On 'Homegrown Militants'". npr.com. February 26, 2014. Archived from the original on August 13, 2018. Retrieved April 3, 2018. - ^ Cite error: The named reference
US won't rule out Islamist militant link to attack on US consulate in Libya – World Newswas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "CIA talking points for Susan Rice called Benghazi attack 'spontaneously inspired' by protests". CBS News. November 15, 2012. Archived from the original on November 21, 2012. Retrieved November 21, 2012.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
EgyptNotLibyawas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Cite error: The named reference
BBCMilitiaStormedwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Cite error: The named reference
NYTMilitantsBesiegedwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Dilanian, Ken (November 21, 2014). "House intel panel debunks many Benghazi theories". AP NEWS. Archived from the original on April 1, 2018. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
- ^ Schmidt, Michael S. (November 22, 2014). "G.O.P.-Led Benghazi Panel Bolsters Administration". The New York Times. Archived from the original on February 21, 2019. Retrieved February 20, 2019.
- ^ O'Toole, Molly. "Libya Is Obama's Biggest Regret — And Hillary's Biggest Threat". Archived from the original on February 21, 2019. Retrieved February 20, 2019.
- ^ O'Toole, Molly. "In Final Report, Benghazi Committee Finds No New Evidence of Clinton Wrongdoing". Archived from the original on February 21, 2019. Retrieved February 20, 2019.
- ^ Gearan, Anne; Miller, Greg (December 19, 2012). "Four State Dept. officials disciplined after Benghazi probe". Archived from the original on April 1, 2018. Retrieved April 1, 2018 – via www.washingtonpost.com.
- ^ "Transcript of Hillary Clinton's testimony on Benghazi attack". New York Daily News. Archived from the original on July 15, 2014. Retrieved July 14, 2014.
- ^ Perez, Evan (August 7, 2013). "First criminal charges filed in Benghazi attack probe". CNN. Archived from the original on September 4, 2013. Retrieved September 5, 2013.
- ^ "Terrorist Designations of Three Ansar al-Shari'a Organizations and Leaders". U.S. Department of State. January 10, 2014. Retrieved June 19, 2014.
- ^ John King; Chelsea J. Carter (August 7, 2013). "Lawmaker: If CNN can interview suspect in Benghazi attack, why can't FBI?". CNN. Archived from the original on May 8, 2014. Retrieved May 8, 2014.
- ^ Wemple, Erik (April 3, 2014). "New York Times stands by Benghazi story". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on May 8, 2014. Retrieved May 8, 2014.
- ^ "U.S. captures Benghazi suspect in secret raid". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on October 28, 2014. Retrieved August 23, 2017.
- ^ "Mustafa al-Imam Sentenced to 236 Months in Prison for September 2012 Terrorist Attack in Benghazi, Libya". United States Department of State. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
- ^ "Man seized over Benghazi attack is Syrian linked to suspected ringleader -Libyan officials". Reuters. Archived from the original on November 11, 2017. Retrieved November 11, 2017.