[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. [263] One email, dated September 14, 2012, with a subject line "RE PREP CALL with Susan: Saturday at 4:00 pm ET", was from deputy national security advisor for strategic communications Rhodes stated:[264] "Goals: To underscore that these protests are rooted in an Internet video, and not a broader failure of policy"[265] According to another e-mail obtained by Judicial Watch, when asked about whether the attack was linked to the Mohammad video, State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland said she "could not confirm a connect as we simply don't knowand we won't know until there is an investigation". [257] None of the other Benghazi investigations identified wrongdoing by any individuals. It is our job to figure out what happened and do everything we can to prevent it from ever happening again, Senator. We saw one of our 'police' that guard the compound taking pictures. [237], On December 10, 2014, upon publication of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence report on Benghazi,[238] Committee Chairman Mike Rogers wrote in an op-ed piece, "The Obama administration's White House and State Department actions before, during, and after the Benghazi terrorist attack on September 11, 2012, ranged from incompetence to deplorable political manipulation in the midst of an election season. I have heard dozens of judges, activists, and journalists in Benghazi express helplessness and fear of being next in line. [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. And the growing impunity only fuels the violence. [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]. There are no protesters at this . Popular protests against the militias have only led to more bloodshed. Ibrahim al-Sanussi Agilah, head of intelligence for the eastern region, was gunned down in his car on May 8. I want people around the world to hear me: To all those who would do us harm, no act of terror will go unpunished. The Board released their final report on December 19, 2012. [267] John Dickerson of Slate says the e-mail refers to the worldwide protests against Innocence of Muslims and not the Benghazi attack.[268]. Timeline of 9/11 Consulate Attack As It Unfolds. [136], In October 2012, a Tunisian, Ali Harzi, who a U.S. intelligence official stated had links to Ansar al-Sharia and al-Qaeda in the Maghreb, was arrested in Turkey and repatriated to Tunisia on terrorism charges and possible links to the attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi. [119][120][121] CNN,[119] the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace,[122] Commentary Magazine[121] and The Daily Telegraph[120] have listed this group as a chief suspect. In addition, the National Transitional Council estimated 50,000 wounded. This latest spasm of violence is not unique. Hanan Salah is the Libya researcher at Human Rights Watch. At least 48 people were killed in ensuing clashes, which have yielded neither an investigation nor any prosecutions. On May 19, militias said to be from the western city of Zintan joined Haftar's campaign and . "[203] He further stated, "There is no video that justifies an attack on an Embassy. Consequently, her testimony was postponed. Also on September 20, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton gave a classified briefing to U.S. The number of unlawful killings has been steadily increasing, and has now reached an average of one murder a day. The hearing testimony revealed that "Hicks argued that Rice's comments so insulted the Libyan presidentsince they contradicted his Sept. 16 claims that the attack was premeditatedthat it slowed the FBI's investigation. [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". [13] A 50-member Marine FAST team was sent to Libya to "bolster security". [249][250] In an interview with the Associated Press, Fox News' White House correspondent Ed Henry suggested that he thought Benghazi was being covered too much by the network. [159], On September 16, Libyan President Mohamed Magariaf said that the attack on the United States consulate was planned months in advance,[160] and further stated that "[t]he idea that this criminal and cowardly act was a spontaneous protest that just spun out of control is completely unfounded and preposterous. The U.S. ambassador to Libya, Christopher Stevens, and three other U.S. nationals were killed during the attack. The moderator of the debate, Candy Crowley, agreed, stating "Hehe did call it an act of terror." He was a member of the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group, which tried to overthrow the Gadhafi regime in the mid-1990s. [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). It was clearly designed to be an attack. By 10:05p.m., the team was briefed and loaded into their armored Toyota Land Cruisers. During Congressional hearings, Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens' top deputy in Libya, Gregory N. Hicks, testified that Ambassador Stevens was in Benghazi in 2012 because "Secretary [of State Hillary] Clinton wanted the post made permanent", and it was understood that the secretary hoped to make an announcement to that effect during a visit to Tripoli later in the year. "[173] After referring to "the 9/11 attacks", "troops who made the ultimate sacrifice in Iraq and Afghanistan", and "then last night, we learned the news of this attack in Benghazi"[173] the President urged, "As Americans, let us never, ever forget that our freedom is only sustained because there are people who are willing to fight for it, to stand up for it, and in some cases, lay down their lives for it. Fox News was subsequently criticized for cutting the interview short. Attackers set the U.S. mission in Benghazi, Libya, on fire on September 11, 2012. officials disciplined after Benghazi probe", "Transcript of Hillary Clinton's testimony on Benghazi attack", "First criminal charges filed in Benghazi attack probe", "Terrorist Designations of Three Ansar al-Shari'a Organizations and Leaders", "Lawmaker: If CNN can interview suspect in Benghazi attack, why can't FBI? Today we mourn four more Americans who represent the very best of the United States of America. After the attack, all diplomatic staff were moved to the capital, Tripoli, with nonessential personnel to be flown out of Libya. 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. The protesters called for Qaddafi to step down and for the release of political prisoners. Share this via Twitter Main article: 2012 Benghazi attack. [31][32][33][34][35] Surplus funds originally dedicated for use in Iran for fiscal year 2012 were to be redirected and obligated for use in Benghazi: an action that had to be completed before the end of the fiscal yearSeptember 30, 2012. Diplomatic Facilities in Benghazi, Libya, September 1112, 2012, United States Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, "Timeline: Here's how the Benghazi attacks played out", "US officials: CIA ran Benghazi consulate", "Clinton says Benghazi is her biggest regret", "House intel panel debunks many Benghazi theories", "State Department: No Protest at the Benghazi consulate", "CIA witnesses offer more evidence Benghazi attack planned", "Panetta: Terrorists 'clearly' planned Benghazi attack", "Brazen Figure May Hold Key to Mysteries", "Suspect in Libya Attack, in Plain Sight, Scoffs at U.S.", "Exclusive:Libyan Islamist says he was at U.S. consulate during attack", "N.Y. Times probe finds no al-Qaeda link to Benghazi raid", "New York Times report casts doubt on al Qaeda involvement in Benghazi", "In Benghazi, US Intelligence Wasn't Focused On 'Homegrown Militants', "Transcript: In Benghazi, US Intelligence Wasn't Focused On 'Homegrown Militants', "US won't rule out Islamist militant link to attack on US consulate in Libya", "CIA talking points for Susan Rice called Benghazi attack 'spontaneously inspired' by protests", "Egypt May Be Bigger Concern Than Libya for White House", "Libya: Islamist militia bases stormed in Benghazi", "Angry Libyans Target Militias, Forcing Flight", "G.O.P.-Led Benghazi Panel Bolsters Administration", "Libya Is Obama's Biggest Regret And Hillary's Biggest Threat", "In Final Report, Benghazi Committee Finds No New Evidence of Clinton Wrongdoing", "Four State Dept. [145] Al-Shibli was detained after he returned from a trip to Pakistan, though his exact role in the attack is unclear. This investigation also failed to find any evidence of wrongdoing by senior Obama administration officials. One very long nigh The team, which included two active-duty JSOC operators and five CIA personnel, had commandeered a small jet in Tripoli by paying the pilots $30,000 and forcing them to fly to Benghazi. ET, Pentagon officials had informed Defense Secretary Leon Panetta about the attack. [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. '"[154] She went on to say: "We've seen the heavy assault on our post in Benghazi that took the lives of those brave men.". The United States Department of State designated Ansar al-Sharia as a terrorist organization in January 2014. [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". [13][14] The Libyan Government condemned the attacks and took steps to disband the militias. Witnesses, Benghazi residents, and Western news reports have described him as a leader of Ansar al-Sharia, though he stated he was close to the group but not an official part of it. At least 75 people were killed in militia clashes in Benghazi on May 16 and 17, and 140 were injured. The eastern region, in and around the city of Derna, is notorious for the prevalence of Islamist militias. consulate. [166] On September 24, the government commenced with a raid on a former military base held by a rogue infantry militia. 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. The television ads in Pakistan (marked with the U.S. Embassy seal) feature clips of President Obama and Secretary of State Clinton during press appearances in Washington in which they condemned the video. Benghazi is the second largest city in Libya, located in the northern part of the country. 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. Libya: Crackdown on Nongovernmental Groups, Joint Statement on the Implementation of the Yazidi Survivors Law, Indian Girls Alleged Rape and Murder Sparks Protests, Ukraine: New Light on Russias Rail Station Attack, Video: Violence and Rape by Zimbabwe Gov't Forces After Protests. [6][7] 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. The survivors later find out that Chris Stevens was found alive by local libyans and was taken to the hospital by local libyans, where he was pronounced dead. Ambassador Stevens' body was found by a group of Libyans who had accessed the room through a window. He was released by Libyan authorities on June 12, 2013, based on claims there was a lack of evidence to hold him in custody. [81] The attackers entered the main building and attempted to enter the safe haven. 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. The team then decided to return to the annex with the survivors and Smith's body. custody.[104]. When I think of Benghazi, in my mind I am counting the dead: How many today, how many the week before, how many this year, how many since 2011? Libyan newspaper The Tripoli Post noted that Libya's National Congress also condemned the attack, saying it "led to the regrettable injury and death . Federal Bureau of Investigation. "Citizen groups," mostly former soldiers and lumpenproletariat, joined in and began guerrilla actions against Libya Dawn in Benghazi. American UAVs were also sent to fly over Libya to search for the perpetrators of the attack.[181]. 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. We firmly believe that this was a precalculated, preplanned attack that was carried out specifically to attack the U.S. 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 . Efforts", "US Names Chris Stevens Liaison to Libyan Opposition", "Nightmare in Libya: Thousands of Surface-to-Air Missiles Unaccounted For", "Will a Middle East awash with weapons be Gaddafi's final legacy? 30,000 Libyans marched through Benghazi condemning Ansar al-Sharia, which had been formed during the 2011 Libyan civil war to topple Muammar Gaddafi. What are her numbers today? Stevens was visiting Benghazi at the time to review plans to establish a new cultural center and modernize a hospital. 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. [140] Jamal Abu Ahmad, a former member of Egyptian Islamic Jihad, was released from Egyptian prison after the fall of the Mubarak regime, after which he began assembling a terrorist network. The report did not conclude that Rice or any other government official acted in bad faith or intentionally misled the American people. "[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. 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. [67] In her January 2013 testimony before Congress, Secretary Clinton claimed security decisions at the Benghazi compound had been made by others, stating, "The specific security requests pertaining to Benghazi were handled by the security professionals in the [State] Department. [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. 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. 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