[52], The Brigades of the Imprisoned Sheikh Omar Abdul Rahman released a video of what it said was its detonation of an explosive device outside the gates of the U.S. consulate on June 6, which caused no casualties but blew a hole in the consulate's perimeter wall,[53][54] described by one individual as "big enough for forty men to go through". Prior to her appearance, Rice was provided with "talking points" from a CIA memo,[184] which stated: The currently available information suggests that the demonstrations in Benghazi were spontaneously inspired by the protests at the U.S. Embassy in Cairo and evolved into a direct assault against the U.S. diplomatic post in Benghazi and subsequently its annex. The investigation is ongoing, and the U.S. government is working with Libyan authorities to bring to justice those responsible for the deaths of U.S. In Benghazi, top state security officials and outspoken journalists and activists have been targeted for death. 921. [40]:31, On the day of the attack, two consulate security guards spotted a man in a Libyan police uniform taking pictures of the consulate with his cell phone from a nearby building that was under construction. [154], In the days after the attack, The New York Times stated that young Libyans had flooded Twitter with pro-American messages after the attacks. 3. 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. 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. At least 75 people were killed in militia clashes in Benghazi on May 16 and 17, and 140 were injured. The Coptic Church has grown in recent years in Libya, due to the growing immigration of Egyptian Copts to Libya. A mortar round then hit Woods' position, fatally wounding him. The facts: According to Democratic House Oversight Committee staff, the amount that the GOP-led House passed for two accounts that pay for embassy security in fiscal 2012 ($2.311 billion) was $330 . [151] Think Progress stated that Libyans are typically more positively inclined towards the United States than their neighbors. 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. On May 19, militias said to be from the western city of Zintan joined Haftar's campaign and attacked the parliament building in Tripoli, resulting in at least four dead and 90 injured. Share this via WhatsApp The GNC also failed to reverse a 2012 law that grants immunity from prosecution for acts "promoting or protecting the [2011] revolution," which in practice propagated a culture of impunity and selective justice. The US ambassador to Libya dies after militiamen attack the consulate in Benghazi in protest at a US-made film said to insult the Prophet Muhammad. [10][11][12] The United States immediately increased security worldwide at diplomatic and military facilities and began investigating the Benghazi attack. Many have fled as a result. A taxi driver in Tripoli told me recently he "hated Qaddafi," but wished for a Qaddafi to bring back some order. With a lull in the fighting, Doherty began searching for his friend, Tyrone S. Woods, and he was told he was on the roof. It will not dim the light of the values that we proudly present to the rest of the world.[182]. The American whose death was confirmed on Tuesday also died of a gunshot wound. 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. United States House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, American fatalities and injuries of the 2012 Benghazi attack, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Department of State Operations and Embassy Security Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 2014, Investigation into the 2012 Benghazi attack, Timeline of the investigation into the 2012 Benghazi attack, United States House Select Committee on Benghazi, Attack on the United States embassy in Baghdad, Ambassadors of the United States killed in office, 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi, Review of the Terrorist Attacks on U.S. The U.N. Security Council authorized military intervention in Libya in the name of the "Responsibility to Protect" doctrine, and therefore has a special responsibility to address grave ongoing crimes, including crimes against humanity and mass unlawful killings. A Libyan militant was sentenced on Thursday to more than 19 years in prison by a federal judge for his role in the 2012 Benghazi attacks that killed four Americans . [153][154] The ambassador further praised Stevens as a "dear friend" and a "real hero". On July 26, 2013, prominent political activist Abdelsalam Elmessmary, who had denounced the murders and criticized Islamist groups three days earlier during a TV appearance, was killed while walking home. In January, a report prepared bya Libyan parliamentary committee listed 643 killings in 2013. 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 . [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)). 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. This assessment may change as additional information is collected and analyzed and as currently available information continues to be evaluated. So the president went on various shows, despite what he said in the Rose Garden, about terrorist acts, he went on several programs, including The View, including Letterman, including before the UN where he continued to refer, days later, many days later, to this as a spontaneous demonstration because of a hateful video. The earliest attacks were straightforward, targeting the Qaddafi-era state security forces and judiciary. The hearing began at 10 a.m. and, with breaks, lasted until . [148] Mohamed Yousef el-Magariaf, the President of the General National Congress of Libya, said: "We apologize to the U.S., to the American people and to the government and also to the rest of the world for what happened yesterday. On May 28, the air force in Benghazi, which is aligned with Haftar, again targeted headquarters of Islamist militias, including the February 17 Brigade and Ansar al Sharia. [180] The destroyers are equipped with Tomahawk cruise missiles. 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. 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 . [173], After the attack, Obama ordered that security be increased at all such facilities worldwide. "[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. Libyan security forces used water cannons and rubber bullets against the crowds, resulting in a number of injuries. [211], In the Presidential debate of October 16, 2012, between President Obama and Mitt Romney, Romney claimed that "it took the president 14 days before he called the attack in Benghazi an act of terror." The President of the Palestinian Authority, who worked closely with Chris when he served in Jerusalem, sent me a letter remembering his energy and integrity, and deploringand I quote'an act of ugly terror. "[230] According to critics, the consulate site should have been secured better both before and after the attack. Immediately, several agents ran onto the roof to assess damage and help the wounded. Get updates on human rights issues from around the globe. However, the day after the Benghazi attack, Ansar al-Sharia issued a statement saying that the attack was in part "a spontaneous popular uprising in response to what happened by the West," which was an apparent reference to the Innocence of Muslims video. Eric J. Boswell, the Assistant Secretary of State for Diplomatic Security, resigned under pressure, while three others were suspended. [257] None of the other Benghazi investigations identified wrongdoing by any individuals. The security guards briefly detained the man before releasing him. Ricks accused the network of covering the story more than it needed to be. Tweet. On September 24, advertisements condemning an anti-Islam video appeared on Pakistani television. [81] The attackers entered the main building and attempted to enter the safe haven. [209] The crime scene was not secured during that time; neither American nor Libyan investigators were able to secure the scene. Anybody who tells you that what happened to our ambassador and our consulate in Libya was as a result of a protest over an offensive movie, you should ask them why they think that. Wickland (who was severely wounded by gunfire) returned several times but could not find them in the smoke; he went up to the roof and radioed other agents. "[62], Ambassador Stevens' diary, which was later found at the compound, recorded his concern about the growing al-Qaeda presence in the area and his worry about being on an al-Qaeda hit list. Four Americans died in the attack: Ambassador Stevens, Information Officer Sean Smith, [1] and two CIA operatives, [2] Glen Doherty and Tyrone Woods, [3] [4] both former Navy SEALs. The CIA, which made up most of the U.S. government's presence in Benghazi, had a ten-member security team at its annex and the State Department believed that this team would assist the consulate in the event of an attack. interests. Other ways to share . [39], Eastern Libya and Benghazi were key intelligence-gathering hubs for intelligence operatives. 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. Shortly after the Benghazi attack, Secretary of State Clinton commissioned an independent Accountability Review Board to investigate, chaired by retired ambassador Thomas R. Pickering with vice-chair retired Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Michael Mullen. Carney said, "It is, I think, self-evident that what happened in Benghazi was a terrorist attack. citizens.[185]. No casualties were reported. ", "New York Times stands by Benghazi story", "U.S. captures Benghazi suspect in secret raid", "Mustafa al-Imam Sentenced to 236 Months in Prison for September 2012 Terrorist Attack in Benghazi, Libya", "Man seized over Benghazi attack is Syrian linked to suspected ringleader -Libyan officials", "Benghazi under scrutiny at congressional hearing live blog", "Benghazi witness points finger at Clinton on lapses in consulate security", "Clinton's role in the Benghazi fiasco and blame-shifting", Committee on Oversight and Government Reform House of Representatives, "U.S. officials blocked rescue efforts while Benghazi burned, Congress told", "Exclusive: Dozens of CIA operatives on the ground during Benghazi attack", "Deadly Attack in Libya Was Major Blow to C.I.A. But we put together a Benghazi special committee, a select committee. Ibrahim al-Sanussi Agilah, head of intelligence for the eastern region, was gunned down in his car on May 8. [143] The United Nations Security Council also noted, "Some of the attackers of the U.S. Mission in Benghazi on 11 September 2012 have been identified as associates of Muhammad Jamal, and some of the Benghazi attackers reportedly trained at MJN camps in Libya. [166] On September 24, the government commenced with a raid on a former military base held by a rogue infantry militia. After several days of fighting, and hundreds of people killed, anti-Gaddafi fighters seized control of Libya's second city.. Cities further east, including . "[40]:34, According to a local security official, he and a battalion commander had met with United States Diplomats three days before the attack and warned the Americans about deteriorating security in the area. [174][175] It was announced that the FBI would investigate the possibility of the attack being planned. Attackers set the U.S. mission in Benghazi, Libya, on fire on September 11, 2012. [206], Also on September 28, it was reported that Nakoula Basseley Nakoula, the producer of the Innocence of Muslims video, had been arrested in California and was being held without bail for alleged probation violations stemming from a 2010 bank fraud conviction. [83][84] The Regional Security Office sounded the alarm and called to the Benghazi CIA annex and the embassy in Tripoli. He was released by Libyan authorities on June 12, 2013, based on claims there was a lack of evidence to hold him in custody. The wreckage of a car sits inside the US Embassy compound on September 12, 2012 in Benghazi, Libya,. We will not waver in our commitment to see that justice is done for this terrible act. [40]:4647[94] 31-year-old Diplomatic Security Service Special Agent David Ubben and 46-year-old CIA contractor Mark Geist suffered shrapnel injuries and several broken bones in the mortar attacks.[95]. As the Libyan . We know that is patently false. 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. [18][19][20][21] Four career State Department officials were criticized for denying requests for additional security at the facility prior to the attack. In February on 1942, the deportation of the Jews of Cyrenaica/Benghazi to the Giado concentration camp as part of the Final Solution for the Jews of Libya began, setting off "dealing", first . Libyan newspaper The Tripoli Post noted that Libya's National Congress also condemned the attack, saying it "led to the regrettable injury and death . [213] A May 14, 2013 Fact Checker by Glenn Kesler said that "Immediately after the attack, the president three times used the phrase "act of terror" in public statements. The U.S. ambassador to Libya, Christopher Stevens, and three other U.S. nationals were killed during the attack. The Board released their final report on December 19, 2012. "[214], On October 19, 2012, House Oversight Committee Chairman Darrell Issa (R-CA) came under fire from intelligence officials in the Obama administration when he posted, on a public website, 166 pages of sensitive but unclassified State Department communications related to Libya. But it was intelligence analysts, not political appointees, who made the wrong call, the committee found. [167], Handling the militias had been difficult as the government had been forced to rely on some of them for protection and security. "[204], On September 26, Clinton acknowledged a possible link between Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb and the Benghazi attack.[205]. [217] In a radio interview October 29, 2012, Senator John McCain said that the surveillance tapes had been classified top secret. [261] Three of the photographs show Arabic-language spray paint graffiti. Obama administration officials, most notably Susan Rice, were provided this early assessment and repeated it to media outlets, only to be later contradicted as further intelligence assessments were made. [115], David Kirkpatrick of The New York Times reported that 20-year-old neighbor Mohamed Bishari witnessed the attack. [79] Phone calls were made to the embassy in Tripoli, the Diplomatic Security Command Center in Washington, the February 17th Martyrs Brigade and a U.S. quick reaction force located at the annex compound a little more than a mile (1.6km) away. [8][9], There is no definitive evidence that al-Qaeda or any other international terrorist organization participated in the Benghazi attack. [60][61], On June 18, 2012, the Tunisian Consulate in Benghazi was attacked by individuals affiliated with Ansar al-Sharia, allegedly because of "attacks by Tunisian artists against Islam". [55] The Brigades claimed that the attack was in response to the killing of Abu Yahya al Libi, a Libyan al-Qaeda leader who had just died in an American drone attack, and was also timed to coincide with the imminent arrival of a United States Diplomat. His credibility was reduced,' Hicks said, adding that the president was apparently 'still steamed' two weeks later. No attack aircraft had been placed on high alert on September 11, the anniversary of the September 11 attacks in 2001, and the closest fighter planes to trouble spots in North Africa were based in Aviano, Italy. [96][97], At around 1:00a.m., Stevens was taken to the Benghazi Medical Center, a hospital controlled by the Ansar Al-Sharia militia,[101] in a private car as there was no ambulance to carry him. On June 16, 2014, in a joint effort by U.S. Special Operations and the FBI near Benghazi, Libya, an alleged ringleader of the Benghazi . These accusations were widely shared across various blogs and social media platforms. 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