Battle of Benghazi

Battle of Benghazi. The Battle of Benghazi was a coordinated attack on the American diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya, by members of the Ansar al-Sharia militia, which is affiliated with Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb. The attack, which occurred on September 11, 2012, resulted in the deaths of four American citizens, including United States Ambassador to Libya J. Christopher Stevens, Sean Smith, Tyrone S. Woods, and Glen Doherty. The attack was widely condemned by Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and other world leaders, including David Cameron, François Hollande, and Angela Merkel.

Background

The background to the Battle of Benghazi is complex and involves the Libyan Civil War, which began in 2011 and led to the overthrow and killing of Muammar Gaddafi. The National Transitional Council (NTC) took control of Libya and established a new government, but the country remained unstable, with various militia groups, including Ansar al-Sharia, vying for power. The United States had established a diplomatic presence in Benghazi, with J. Christopher Stevens serving as the United States Ambassador to Libya. The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) also had a presence in Benghazi, with David Petraeus serving as the Director of Central Intelligence. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Department of State also had personnel in Benghazi, including Victoria Nuland and Patrick Kennedy.

The Battle

The Battle of Benghazi began on the evening of September 11, 2012, when members of Ansar al-Sharia launched a coordinated attack on the American diplomatic compound in Benghazi. The attack involved rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs), mortars, and small arms fire, and resulted in the deaths of J. Christopher Stevens and Sean Smith. The attack also damaged the compound and forced the surviving American personnel to evacuate to a nearby CIA annex. The CIA annex came under attack later that evening, resulting in the deaths of Tyrone S. Woods and Glen Doherty. The attack was eventually repelled by Libyan security forces, with the assistance of United States Navy SEALs and other American personnel, including John Brennan and Leon Panetta.

Aftermath

The aftermath of the Battle of Benghazi was marked by widespread condemnation of the attack and calls for greater security measures to protect American diplomatic personnel. Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton both issued statements condemning the attack, and United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon also issued a statement. The United States Congress launched an investigation into the attack, with Darrell Issa and Jason Chaffetz serving as key figures in the investigation. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) also launched an investigation, with Robert Mueller serving as the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The CIA and the Department of State also conducted internal reviews of the attack, with John Kerry and Chuck Hagel serving as key figures in the reviews.

Casualties and Damage

The casualties and damage resulting from the Battle of Benghazi were significant. Four American citizens were killed, including J. Christopher Stevens, Sean Smith, Tyrone S. Woods, and Glen Doherty. Several other American personnel were injured, including David Ubben and John Tiegen. The American diplomatic compound in Benghazi was severely damaged, and the CIA annex was also damaged. The attack also resulted in the destruction of several United States Department of State vehicles and other equipment, including Humvees and MRAPs. The Libyan government also suffered casualties, with several Libyan security personnel killed or injured, including Mohamed Magariaf and Ali Zeidan.

Investigation and Controversy

The investigation into the Battle of Benghazi was marked by controversy, with some critics arguing that the Obama administration had not done enough to prevent the attack or respond to it in a timely manner. The United States Congress launched an investigation into the attack, with Darrell Issa and Jason Chaffetz serving as key figures in the investigation. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) also launched an investigation, with Robert Mueller serving as the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The CIA and the Department of State also conducted internal reviews of the attack, with John Kerry and Chuck Hagel serving as key figures in the reviews. The investigation and controversy surrounding the Battle of Benghazi also involved other key figures, including Susan Rice, Jay Carney, and Eric Holder. The Benghazi Committee was established by the United States House of Representatives to investigate the attack, with Trey Gowdy serving as the chairman. The committee's report was released in 2016, and it criticized the Obama administration for its handling of the attack, including the actions of Ben Rhodes and Denis McDonough. Category: Battles involving the United States