Benghazi attack

Benghazi attack. The 2012 Benghazi attack was a coordinated terrorist attack against two United States diplomatic compounds in Benghazi, Libya, which was carried out by Ansar al-Sharia, an Islamic extremist group with ties to Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb and Al-Qaeda. The attack resulted in the deaths of four American citizens, including United States Ambassador to Libya J. Christopher Stevens, United States Foreign Service officer Sean Smith, and CIA contractors Tyrone S. Woods and Glen Doherty. The attack occurred on the 11th anniversary of the September 11 attacks and was widely condemned by Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and other world leaders, including United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

Background

The Libyan Civil War had created a power vacuum in Libya, allowing extremist groups like Ansar al-Sharia to flourish. The United States had been involved in the conflict through its support of the National Transitional Council, led by Mustafa Abdul Jalil, and had established a diplomatic mission in Benghazi to provide support to the Libyan people. The mission was led by J. Christopher Stevens, who had previously served as the United States Special Envoy to Libya and had played a key role in the Libyan revolution. The CIA also had a presence in Benghazi, with CIA Director David Petraeus overseeing the agency's operations in the region. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Department of State's Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) also had personnel in Libya, working closely with the United States Department of Defense and the National Security Agency (NSA).

The Attack

On the evening of September 11, 2012, a group of militants from Ansar al-Sharia launched a coordinated attack on the United States diplomatic compound in Benghazi. The attack began with a bombing of the compound's front gate, followed by a gun battle between the militants and the CIA contractors and Libyan security forces who were providing security for the compound. The attackers then set fire to the compound, forcing the Americans to evacuate to a nearby CIA annex. The attack on the annex began shortly after, with the militants using mortars and rocket-propelled grenades to attack the building. The United States military responded to the attack by sending a team of operators from the United States European Command to Benghazi, led by General Carter Ham. The operators were supported by aircraft from the United States Air Force and the United States Navy, including F-16 Fighting Falcons and AC-130 gunships.

Aftermath

The attack resulted in the deaths of four American citizens, including J. Christopher Stevens, Sean Smith, Tyrone S. Woods, and Glen Doherty. The attack also injured several other Americans and Libyans, including Libyan Ambassador to the United States Ali Aujali. The attack was widely condemned by world leaders, including United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, European Union High Representative Catherine Ashton, and Arab League Secretary-General Nabil Elaraby. The United States government responded to the attack by increasing security at diplomatic missions around the world and by launching an investigation into the attack. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) led the investigation, with support from the CIA, the Department of State, and the Department of Defense. The investigation was overseen by Attorney General Eric Holder and Director of National Intelligence James Clapper.

Investigations

The investigation into the attack was led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), with support from the CIA, the Department of State, and the Department of Defense. The investigation found that the attack was carried out by Ansar al-Sharia, an Islamic extremist group with ties to Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb and Al-Qaeda. The investigation also found that the attack was planned and coordinated in advance, with the attackers using social media and other communication channels to coordinate their actions. The investigation was overseen by Attorney General Eric Holder and Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, and was supported by Congress, including the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. The investigation also involved international cooperation, including with the Libyan government and the United Kingdom's MI6.

Controversy and Criticism

The attack was the subject of significant controversy and criticism, particularly in the United States. The Obama administration was criticized for its handling of the attack, including its initial response to the attack and its decision not to send military reinforcements to Benghazi. The administration was also criticized for its characterization of the attack, with some Republicans accusing the administration of covering up the true nature of the attack. The attack was also the subject of several congressional investigations, including an investigation led by the House Select Committee on Benghazi, chaired by Trey Gowdy. The committee's report found that the Obama administration had made significant mistakes in its handling of the attack, including its failure to provide adequate security for the diplomatic compound and its slow response to the attack. The report was criticized by Democrats, who argued that it was partisan and biased. The controversy surrounding the attack continued to be a major issue in American politics, with the attack being referenced by Donald Trump and other Republican candidates during the 2016 United States presidential election. Category: Terrorist attacks