4 Americans died in Libya and everyone on earth knew the name "Benghazi". Using these talking points as a guide, Rice stated: Based on the best information we have to date, what our assessment is as of the present is in fact what began spontaneously in Benghazi as a reaction to what had transpired some hours earlier in Cairo where, of course, as you know, there was a violent protest outside of our embassysparked by this hateful video. [132], Conservative pundit Jonah Goldberg of the National Review stated that on NBC's Meet the Press, host David Gregory changed the subject when a guest raised the subject of the Benghazi attack, saying, "Let's get to Libya a little bit later", but never returned to the subject. Investigators have learned he has had contact with both the Yemen-based Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula and Al-Qaeda members in Pakistan. The House Select Committee on Benghazi's final report was released on June 28, 2016, and the committee closed down five months later. Our Sources. 3. No casualties were reported. The Center for Media and Public Affairs at George Mason University described the conclusions of an unpublished study on November 2, 2012. Libyans walk on the grounds of the gutted U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya, after an attack that killed four Americans, including Ambassador Chris Stevens, Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2012. 3,751. [56][57] There were no injuries, but the group left behind leaflets promising more attacks against the United States. The incident sparked controversy and ignited a political firestorm in the United States. At least 75 people were killed in militia clashes in Benghazi on May 16 and 17, and 140 were injured. [38] In addition, it has been reported that in the summer of 2012, American Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) missions had begun to target Libyan militias linked to the Al-Qaeda network of Yasin al-Suri. [7] Senior intelligence officials later . . The crowd almost certainly was a mix of individuals from across many sectors of Libyan society. 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. [223] Spain authorized the basing of the quick response force at Morn Air Base near Seville, for a temporary one-year term. The unrest we've seen around the region has been in reaction to a video that Muslims, many Muslims find offensive. [145] Al-Shibli was detained after he returned from a trip to Pakistan, though his exact role in the attack is unclear. Consulate attacked. 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. As Doherty attempted to reposition and take cover, a second round fell on him, killing him. The wreckage of a car sits inside the US Embassy compound on September 12, 2012 in Benghazi, Libya,. Libyan security forces used water cannons and rubber bullets against the crowds, resulting in a number of injuries. Some have also voiced concerns that inaction by authorities means acquiescence. The official told CNN that he advised the diplomats, "The situation is frightening; it scares us. 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. "[208], On October 4, 22 days after the attack, FBI investigators were finally allowed access to the scene of the attack. "[133], In a September 18 appearance on the Late Show with David Letterman, President Obama said, "extremists and terrorists used (the anti-Muslim YouTube video) as an excuse to attack a variety of our embassies. 30,000 Libyans marched through Benghazi condemning Ansar al-Sharia, which had been formed during the 2011 Libyan civil war to topple Muammar Gaddafi. 2848; 113th Congress). Watch highlights from the House hearing about an attack in Benghazi, Libya, in 2012, when Hillary Rodham Clinton was secretary of state. 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. Immediately, several agents ran onto the roof to assess damage and help the wounded. [226] Supporters argued, Critics including Republican Party members accused the Obama White House and State Department of overemphasizing or fabricating the role of Islamic anger over the anti-Islamic movie Innocence of Muslims and alleged that the administration was reluctant to label the attack as "terrorist". While being interviewed on Fox News by Jon Scott, Ricks accused Fox News of being "extremely political" in its coverage of the attack and said that "Fox was operating as a wing of the Republican Party." 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 . Please try again. White House Spokesman Jay Carney later specified that the criticism of the administration's handling of the Benghazi attacks was one of those "phony scandals". On the same day, Libya's Deputy Ambassador to the United Kingdom Ahmad Jibril told the BBC that Ansar Al-Sharia was behind the attack. 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. The report suggested that there was intelligence that was available prior to this that led us to believe that this facility would be attacked, and that is false We have no information to suggest that it was a preplanned attack. [176] U.S. officials said surveillance over Libya would increase, including the use of unmanned drones, to "hunt for the attackers". [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. The insecurity has also forced the closure of courts and prosecutors' offices in Benghazi and Derna. [31][32][33][34][35] He also stated that "Chris [Stevens] wanted to make a symbolic gesture to the people of Benghazi that the United States stood behind their dream of establishing a new democracy. The operation began in Benghazi and has spread to Tripoli and elsewhere. [242] However, the 2014 final report by the Republican-controlled House Intelligence Committee found that during the days immediately following the attack there was confusion among intelligence analysts as to the origin of the attack, leading to an initial assessment that it was the spontaneous outcome from a protest. [166][167] The government also mandated that bearing arms in public was now illegal, as were armed checkpoints. "[214] In the article, Kessler accused Obama of "revisionist history" for stating he had called the attack an "act of terrorism" when in fact he had used the term "act of terror", observing that Obama had gone out of his way to avoid calling the incident an "act of terrorism" or blame the ambassador's death on terrorism.[214][225]. The U.S. ambassador to Libya, Christopher Stevens, and three other U.S. nationals were killed during the attack. He said the interim government had entered into negotiations with "Islamist groups" about their presence and activities in Benghazi. 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. When Johnson pressed her to explain why, in the immediate aftermath, no one from the State Department had asked American evacuees if there had been a protest before the attack, Clinton replied: With all due respect, the fact is, we had four dead Americans! "[72] According to Media Matters For America, the attackers stated they were acting in response to Innocence of Muslims. [102] There he was administered CPR for 90 minutes by Dr. Ziad Abu Zeid. [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". June 17, 2014. Carney said, "It is, I think, self-evident that what happened in Benghazi was a terrorist attack. The drone arrived at 11:10p.m. local time (5:10p.m. The steady drumbeat of violence over the past three years has undermined the authority of successive governments, and laid the groundwork for Haftar's campaign. Their words were subtitled in Urdu. [78][76] A Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) agent viewed on the consulate's security cameras "a large number of men, armed men, flowing into the compound". ET, Pentagon officials had informed Defense Secretary Leon Panetta about the attack. [82] Three agents returned to the main building in an armored vehicle, searched the building and found Smith's body, but not Stevens. [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. [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". [50] Just four days later, a similar bomb was thrown at a four-vehicle convoy carrying the United Nations Special Envoy to Libya, exploding twelve feet (3.7m) from the United Nations envoy's vehicle without injuring anyone. There is no easy answer to what happens next, and no magic wand. For all these crimes, there have been no real investigations, no known arrests (except of one man, who managed to break out of prison in May 2013), and no known prosecutions. When I met then Interior Minister Ashour Shwail in February 2013, he blamed pro-Qaddafi "sleeper cells" outside Libya for stoking the violence. ", "Remarks at Reception Marking Eid ul-Fitr", "Clinton: Libya Attacks By A 'Savage Group,' Not Libyan Government Or Its People", "Opinion Briefing: Libyans Eye New Relations With the West", "Eastern Libya poll indicates political Islam will closely follow democracy", "Survey of Public Opinion in Eastern Libya", Bob Schieffer, ""Face the Nation" transcripts, September 16, 2012: Libyan Pres. On Sept. 11, 2012, four Americans were killed during an attack on an American diplomatic post in Benghazi, Libya, triggering an intricate sequence of events that led to years of political debate. The steady drumbeat of killings has left Libyans despairing about whether anyone can bring security to their volatile country. The CIA defenders held off the attack until the morning. State Department officials said they do not know who took Stevens to the hospital or transported the body to the airport and into U.S. Other ways to share 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 . Miftah Bouzeid, the editor-in-chief of Burniq newspaper known for his vocal opposition to Islamist militias, became the latest high-profile victim when he was shot dead on May 26. "[173] He then went on to say, No acts of terror will ever shake the resolve of this great nation, alter that character, or eclipse the light of the values that we stand for. [201], On September 25, in an address before the United Nations General Assembly President Obama stated, "The attacks on our civilians in Benghazi were attacks on America And there should be no doubt that we will be relentless in tracking down the killers and bringing them to justice. [166] Hours before the announcement, in Derna, the two main militias (one of them Ansar al-Sharia) active in the city both withdrew, leaving both their five military bases behind. Reuters. 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. [168], Across the country, militias began surrendering to the government. and cars are engulfed in flames after being set on fire inside the U.S. consulate compound in Benghazi, Libya . It isI mean, I think the DNI spokesman was very declarative about this that the report is false. He drove away in a police car and a complaint was made to the Libyan police station. "[161], On September 21, about 30,000 Libyans marched through Benghazi calling for support of the rule of law and for an end to the armed militias that had formed during the Libyan Civil War to oppose Colonel Gaddafi. We provided that initial assessment to Executive Branch officials and members of Congress As we learned more about the attack, we revised our initial assessment to reflect new information indicating that it was a deliberate and organized terrorist attack carried out by extremists. 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. Our embassy was attacked violently, and the result was four deaths of American officials. [255] It made 29 recommendations to the State Department on how to improve its operations, which Clinton pledged to implement. Anti-Gaddafi fighters gesture to the crowds in front of a Kingdom of Libya flag during celebrations in Benghazi on 23 October. 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 . [167], Handling the militias had been difficult as the government had been forced to rely on some of them for protection and security. [124], In the days and weeks following the attack, President Obama and other administration officials correctly noted that the video had sparked violent incidents at a number of U.S. diplomatic facilities, and Susan Rice stated based on a flawed CIA assessment[125] that the attack "began spontaneously" after a violent protest at the American embassy in Cairo, Egypt hours earlier. [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. "[183] He went on to say: There was no intelligence that in any way could have been acted on to prevent these attacks. In Benghazi, top state security officials and outspoken journalists and activists have been targeted for death. Federal Bureau of Investigation. In his Univision Town Hall appearance on September 20, President Obama said 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. [75] Stevens retired to his room at about 9:00p.m.[76], About 9:40p.m. local time, large numbers of armed men shouting "Allhu Akbar" (God is great) approached the compound from multiple directions. over the loudspeaker. At least 30,000 Libyans died in the civil war. 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. And at the same time, we expect the world to cooperate with us to confront to what is meant out of this kind of act of cowardice. Four Americans died in the 2012 Benghazi attack: Ambassador Chris Stevens, Information Officer Sean Smith, [1] and two CIA operatives, [2] Glen Doherty and Tyrone Woods, [3] [4] both former Navy SEALs. In a phone call with the Egyptian prime minister Kandil the day after the attack, then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said "we know the attack in Libya had nothing to do with the film. Join our movement today. [266], According to The Wall Street Journal, the e-mail was written to prepare U.S. United States officials stated the teams arrived at Sigonella after the attack was over. [41] After the end of the war, both the CIA and the United States' State Department were tasked with continuing to identify and collect arms that had flooded the country during the war, particularly shoulder-fired missiles taken from the arsenal of the Gaddafi regime,[42][43] as well as securing Libyan chemical weapons stockpiles, and helping to train Libya's new intelligence service. [174][175] It was announced that the FBI would investigate the possibility of the attack being planned. Diplomatic security agent David Ubben located Smith,[85] who was unconscious and later declared dead, but the team was unable to find Stevens in the smoke-filled building. 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. One very long nigh [256] As part of this investigation, four career State Department officials were criticized for denying requests for additional security at the facility prior to the attack. The team then decided to return to the annex with the survivors and Smith's body. [81][82] The rest of the agents left to retrieve their weapons and tried to return to the main building. The U.S. ambassador to Libya, Christopher Stevens, and three other U.S. nationals were killed during the attack. Attackers set the U.S. mission in Benghazi, Libya, on fire on September 11, 2012. Former UN Ambassador John Bolton called the concussion a "diplomatic illness".[220]. custody.[104]. [69] The first assault occurred at the main diplomatic compound, approximately 300 yards (270m) long and 100 yards (91m) wide, at about 9:40p.m. local time (3:40p.m. Eastern Time). The National also reported arms being hoarded in Misrata, despite simultaneous reporting by other outlets that militias were surrendering in Misrata.[171]. 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 assassinations have been driven by revenge killings, score-settling, tribal feuds, religious disagreements and ordinary criminal acts. [219] The incident prompted Republican Rep. Allen West to claim that the illness was a ruse intended to avoid testifying. 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. "That this was an act of terror, and I also said that we're going to hunt down those who committed this crime. Many have fled as a result. They will need a broader vision than what has so far been on display: The current crisis can't be fixed with only the usual post-conflict capacity-building and training workshops. Now, honestly, I will do my best to answer your questions about this, but the fact is that people were trying in real time to get to the best information. Sameer Singh @SinghingSam. [221], In March 2013, Representative Duncan D. Hunter introduced legislation into the 113th Congress to authorize awarding of Congressional Gold Medals to Doherty and Woods for their actions that led to their deaths. Consequently, her testimony was postponed. [13] A 50-member Marine FAST team was sent to Libya to "bolster security". Magariaf, Amb. By 2:30 a.m., nearly five hours after the assault had begun, Libyan security forces helped to regain control of the site. . 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