Full Answer
Who was killed in the 2012 Benghazi attack?
American fatalities and injuries of the 2012 Benghazi attack. Four Americans died in the 2012 Benghazi attack: Ambassador Chris Stevens, Information Officer Sean Smith, and two CIA operatives, Glen Doherty and Tyrone Woods, both former Navy SEALs. Stevens is the first U.S. ambassador killed in an attack since Adolph Dubs was killed in 1979.
Who are the four American Heroes of Benghazi?
"We also remember the four American heroes, Sean Smith, Ty Woods, Glen Doherty, and Ambassador Stevens, who lost their lives in Benghazi on 9/11/2012. God bless our great country." The Benghazi attacks and their aftermath quickly became a divisive political issue in American politics.
How many Americans died in the Benghazi attack?
Four Americans died in the attack: Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens, Information Officer Sean Smith, and two CIA operatives, Glen Doherty and Tyrone Woods, both former Navy SEALs.
What happened at the Benghazi consulate?
A militant group attacked the United States consulate in Benghazi on Sept. 11, 2012, killing four Americans and waging an hours-long battle against CIA contractors. NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles! Between bursts of machine gun and AK-47 fire, Mark "Oz" Geist and Tyrone Woods talked about their children.
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What happened in Benghazi in 2012?
10 October coup attempt. The 2012 Benghazi attack was a coordinated attack against two United States government facilities in Benghazi, Libya, by members of the Islamic militant group Ansar al-Sharia . On September 11, 2012, at 9:40pm local time, members of Ansar al-Sharia attacked the American diplomatic compound in Benghazi resulting in ...
How long was the Benghazi attack?
The first assault occurred at the main diplomatic compound, approximately 300 yards (270 m) long and 100 yards (91 m) wide, at about 9:40 p.m. local time (3:40 p.m. Eastern Time). A mortar fire attack on a CIA annex 1.2 miles (1.9 km) away (coordinates#N#WikiMiniAtlas#N#32°03′26″N 20°05′16″E / #N#32.0572°N 20.0877°E#N# / 32.0572; 20.0877 ( CIA annex)#N#) began at about 4:00 a.m. the following morning and lasted for 11 minutes.
What did the Libyans protest against?
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. After that war, the militias failed to disband, and continually menaced the Libyan government and populace. Carrying signs with slogans such as "We Want Justice For Chris" and "Libya Lost a Friend", the protestors stormed several militia headquarters, including that of Ansar al-Sharia, an Islamist militia who some allege played a role in the attack on U.S. diplomatic personnel on September 11. 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".
Why was the Tunisian consulate in Benghazi attacked?
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".
What happened to the CIA annex in Benghazi?
Just after midnight, the CIA annex came under machine gun , rocket and mortar fire. The CIA defenders held off the attack until the morning. : 45–46 That same morning, Libyan government forces met up with a group of Americans, reinforcements from Tripoli including Glen Doherty, that had arrived at the Benghazi airport. 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. : 43 After being held up at the airport for a few hours, the Libyan forces and newly arrived Americans went to the CIA annex at about 5:00 a.m. to assist in transporting approximately 32 Americans at the annex back to the airport for evacuation. Minutes after they drove through the gates, the annex came under heavy fire. With a lull in the fighting, Doherty began searching for his friend, Tyrone S. Woods, and he was told he was on the roof. He found Woods on the roof with two other agents. A mortar round then hit Woods' position, fatally wounding him. As Doherty attempted to reposition and take cover, a second round fell on him, killing him. : 46–47 31-year-old Diplomatic Security Service Special Agent David Ubben suffered shrapnel injuries and several broken bones in the mortar attacks.
How many US agents were in Benghazi?
In 2013, CNN reported that sources told it that around 35 US personnel were working in the diplomatic mission in Benghazi at the time of the attack, of whom around 21 were CIA agents. Within months of the start of the Libyan revolution in February 2011, the CIA had began building a covert presence in Benghazi. During the war, elite counterterrorist operators from the United States Delta Force were deployed to Libya as analysts, instructing the rebels on specifics about weapons and tactics. : 16
Who is the leader of Ansar al-Sharia?
Khattala has been described by both Libyan and United States officials as the Benghazi leader of Ansar al-Sharia. The United States Department of State designated Ansar al-Sharia as a terrorist organization in January 2014.
How many Americans died in Benghazi?
diplomatic compound and a nearby CIA annex in the city of Benghazi, Libya, on September 11–12, 2012, which resulted in the deaths of four Americans, including the U.S. ambassador to Libya—the first violent death of a U.S. ambassador since 1988. The incident sparked controversy and ignited ...
Where is Benghazi located?
Benghazi, city and major seaport of northeastern Libya, on the Gulf of Sidra. It was founded by the Greeks of Cyrenaica as Hesperides (Euesperides) and received from the Egyptian pharaoh Ptolemy III the additional name of Berenice in honour of his wife. After…. ambassador.
Who was the terrorist that set fire to the building on September 11th?
On the night of September 11, about 150 Islamic militants associated with an al-Qaeda affiliate stormed the compound and set fire to the main building. Stevens, information technology specialist Sean Smith, and a security officer hid in a safe room.
Was Benghazi a premeditated act?
As the U.S. government began to investigate the incident, initial remarks from officials were vague and at times seemed contradictory. In the days following the attacks, officials in the Obama administration reported that the incident was related to demonstrations that same day that occurred outside the U.S. embassy in Cairo, after an Egyptian-American had produced and posted an anti-Islam video on YouTube. But no evidence of similar protests in Benghazi could be substantiated, and other evidence emerged, suggesting that the attacks were a premeditated act by the al-Qaeda-affiliated group Ansar al-Sharia. Several investigations into the incident faulted insufficient bureaucratic measures responsible for the failure to prevent and respond properly to the attacks. As the 2012 U.S. presidential election loomed, outgoing Secretary of State Hillary Clinton assumed responsibility for the bureaucratic failures as head of the Department of State and implemented all 29 institutional reforms recommended by the department’s Accountability Review Board. The incident continued to generate controversy, however, as various congressional committees conducted their own investigations; the final investigative report on the attacks was released nearly four years later, in the summer of 2016.
How many Americans died in Benghazi?
Four Americans died in the 2012 Benghazi attack: Ambassador Chris Stevens, Information Officer Sean Smith, and two CIA operatives, Glen Doherty and Tyrone Woods, both former Navy SEALs. Stevens is the first U.S. ambassador killed in an attack since Adolph Dubs was killed in 1979. Senior intelligence officials later acknowledged that Woods and Doherty were contracted by the Central Intelligence Agency, not the State Department as previously identified, and were part of Global Response Staff (GRS), a team that provides security to CIA case officers and countersurveillance and surveillance protection.
What did Woods do in Iraq?
As a Navy SEAL in 2005–06, Woods was awarded the Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V" for valor in Iraq. He led 12 direct action raids and 10 reconnaissance missions leading to the capture of 34 enemy insurgents in the volatile Al Anbar province.
Who was the Roman Catholic leader who worked with President Obama to rid the US military of Christian dominionists?
A Roman Catholic, Doherty was a member of the advisory board of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, an organization that opposes proselytizing by religious groups in the United States military. He worked directly with secretary Clinton and President Obama to rid the US military of Christian dominionists.
Who contracted Woods and Doherty?
Senior intelligence officials later acknowledged that Woods and Doherty were contracted by the Central Intelligence Agency, not the State Department as previously identified, and were part of Global Response Staff (GRS), a team that provides security to CIA case officers and countersurveillance and surveillance protection.
Who were the real secret soldiers of Benghazi?
During the attacks on the compound and the Annex, six American security contractors fought to protect Americans stationed there. The men I meet are three of those six — Kris “Tanto” Paronto, Mark “Oz” Geist, and John “Tig” Tiegen.
Is Secret Soldiers of Benghazi true story?
The new Michael Bay film, 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi, tells the true story of six CIA security contractors who bucked orders to save American lives when Libyan militants attacked the U.S. embassy in Benghazi on September 11, 2012. On one hand, the film strives to avoid divisive politics.
Who is the real Jack Silva?
The identity of the real Jack Da Silva is not known. The former Navy SEAL is portrayed by John Krasinski in the 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi movie.
Who were the real soldiers in 13 Hours?
Director Michael Bay’s new movie, “13 Hours,” tells the story of the attack on the US diplomatic compound in Libya and the mayhem that ensued. Four Americans, including Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens, Winchester native and former Navy SEAL Glen Doherty, and two others lost their lives.
How many Americans died in Benghazi?
Four Americans were dead, including Ambassador Christopher Stevens and two CIA members. What happened in between is covered in “13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi,” a new film from “Transformers” director Michael Bay in theaters Friday.
Who told the 13 hour men to stand down?
Before they could leave, however, the men were inexplicably told to “stand down” by Bob, the station chief. He preferred to let a friendly Libyan militia respond. ( A congressional inquiry later concluded there was no evidence a “stand down” order was issued, but the “13 Hours” men say it happened.)
How did the men get to the outpost?
The men made the journey to the outpost by car, then approached on foot. They arrived to find Stevens missing and officer Sean Smith dead from smoke inhalation.
What was the security team told to do at the Annex?
Over at the Annex, the security team was told to grab their gear and assemble. They loaded guns and body armor into a waiting armored car as they watched flames rise from the nearby outpost.
What time did the first shot explode?
The first shots exploded around 9:40 p.m.
What day is the Benghazi attack?
Friday is not only a day for solemn memorials for the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks but it's also the somber remembrance of the Benghazi attack that killed four Americans.
Who said the Soleimani strike was not unprovoked?
Why Benghazi survivor Mark Geist says Soleimani strike was not unprovoked. Retired United States Marine and Benghazi annex team member Mark Geist says Iran deserves the full force of U.S. military. Friday is not only a day for solemn memorials for the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks but it's also the somber remembrance ...
What was Mustafa al-Imam guilty of?
In June 2019, a federal jury found Mustafa al-Imam guilty on one count of conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists and one count of destroying government property for his role in the Benghazi attack.
Who said America will never forget this "outrage"?
National security adviser Robert O'Brien said America will never forget this "outrage" and will continue to seek justice.
Who is Ahmed Abu Khattala?
Ahmed Abu Khattala, the head of an Islamist extremist militia who directed the attacks, was convicted in 2017 on terrorism-related charges but acquitted of murder. He was sentenced to 22 years in prison.
Overview
Attack
The Benghazi attack was conducted by separate military factions on two separate United States compounds. The first assault occurred at the main diplomatic compound, approximately 300 yards (270 m) long and 100 yards (91 m) wide, at about 9:40 p.m. local time (3:40 p.m. Eastern Time). A mortar fire attack on a CIA annex 1.2 miles (1.9 km) away (coordinates 32°03′26″N 20°05′1…
Background
The US had not had regular diplomatic presence in Libya since withdrawing its ambassador in 1972 and then closing its embassy after the 1979 U.S. embassy burning in Libya, but since the early 2000s had been starting to normalise relations. 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 per…
Aftermath
Libyan Prime Minister Mustafa Abushagur's office condemned the attack and extended condolences, saying: "While strongly condemning any attempt to abuse the person of Muhammad, or an insult to our holy places and prejudice against the faith, we reject and strongly condemn the use of force to terrorize innocent people and the killing of innocent people." It also reaffirmed "the dept…
Investigations
There were ten investigations into the Benghazi matter: one by the FBI; one by an independent board commissioned by the State Department; two by Democrat-controlled Senate Committees; and six by Republican-controlled House Committees. 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. …
FOIA requests
Freedom of Information Act requests have been made since the attack. The conservative foundation Judicial Watch filed a FOIA request to the Department of State on December 19, 2012. An acknowledgement of the request was received by Judicial Watch on January 4, 2013. When the State Department failed to respond to the request by February 4, 2013, Judicial Watch filed a lawsuit, which resulted in seven photographs being delivered on June 6, 2013. Three of the phot…
See also
• Attack on the United States embassy in Baghdad
• Ambassadors of the United States killed in office
• International response to Innocence of Muslims protests
• 13 Hours – 2014 book about the attack
External links
• The House Republican Investigation of Benghazi: single-source site of all the unclassified information and findings from investigations into the attacks
• Interactive Map of Attack at The New York Times
• Map of Consulate grounds