Alleged Benghazi attacker arrives in US custody, ending years-long pursuit for accountability and justice.
A key figure accused of participating in the 2012 assault on the U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi has been transferred to the United States to face federal charges, Justice Department officials announced Friday.
Zubayr al-Bakoush arrived at Joint Base Andrews early Friday morning and will be prosecuted in federal court in the District of Columbia. Authorities have not disclosed where or when he was apprehended.
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said the transfer marks a decisive step toward accountability, emphasizing that al-Bakoush will now stand trial under American law.
According to Jeanine Pirro, the indictment includes charges related to the murders of U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens and State Department employee Sean Smith, as well as attempted murder, arson, and terrorism-related offenses stemming from the attack.
The Benghazi assault claimed four American lives and became one of the most consequential security failures in recent U.S. diplomatic history. The leader of the militia responsible for directing the attack, Ahmed Abu Khattala, was convicted in 2017 and later sentenced to 22 years in prison. Another participant, Mustafa al-Imam, received a nearly 20-year sentence in 2020.
The criminal case against al-Bakoush was first filed in 2015 and remained sealed for more than a decade. Officials said its unsealing reflects sustained cooperation among U.S. law enforcement and intelligence agencies.
The Benghazi attack also fueled years of political debate in Washington, prompting multiple congressional investigations and enduring scrutiny of U.S. diplomatic security practices.
