U.S. Special Forces have captured the suspected mastermind of the 2012 Benghazi attack, the American government announced on Tuesday. This is the first major breakthrough on the attack, which killed U.S. Ambassador to Libya Chris Stevens and three other Americans.
“It’s important for us to send a message to the world that when Americans are attacked, no matter how long it takes, we will find those responsible, and we will bring them to justice. And that’s a message I sent the day after it happened, and regardless of how long it takes, we will find you,” U.S. President Barack Obama said on Tuesday, while on a trip to Pittsburgh not related to the issue.
According to top U.S. officials, Ahmed Abu Khattala was seized during a secret raid at a beach resort in Libya on Sunday. Pentagon Press Secretary Rear Adm. John Kirby said that no single shot was fired during the entire operation, and that no person was injured or killed. Several local Libyans have reportedly helped a lot in his capture. Khattala, who is facing three federal criminal charges, was flown out of Libya to USS New York in the Mediterranean. His current whereabouts is not known.
Ahmed Abu Khattala is allegedly the mastermind of the attack at the American Embassy in Libya on September 11-12, 2012. In October 2012, he was interviewed by The New York Times and CBS News and has been denying being involved or having orchestrated the attack. President Obama and then-U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton were criticized by congressional Republicans for allegedly not approving the request for additional security at the consulate before the attack took place. Clinton later took the responsibility for the blame.
Meanwhile, US Attorney General Eric Holder said a thorough investigation is still going on to identify and arrest any co-conspirators on the brutal attack. The Islamist militia commander, who is believed to be in his early 40s, is set to appear in U.S. court at an unspecified date. However, Republican John McCain said that he believes Khattalah should be brought to the military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
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