Transfer of Zubair al-Baqosh Signals Continued Commitment to Justice for Benghazi Attack

Zubair al-Baqosh is the latest notable figure facing trial for the tragic September 11, 2012, attack on U.S. diplomats in Benghazi, Libya. His recent transfer to a Washington, D.C., detention center brings a sense of reassurance that the U.S. government has not forgotten about this incident.

Prosecutors allege that al-Baqosh spearheaded the initial raid on a U.S. special operations facility, armed with “assault rifles, other firearms, and explosives.” This led to a brutal 13-hour assault that resulted in the deaths of U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens, State Department official Sean Smith, and CIA contractors Glenn Doherty and Tyrone Woods.

As for the details surrounding al-Baqosh’s arrest, federal authorities have yet to disclose specifics about when or how it occurred. Interestingly, he was first indicted in a U.S. court back in 2015, although the particulars of that indictment remain sealed.

This development follows the capture of Ahmed Abu Qattara, the mastermind behind the attack, in 2014. U.S. special forces and an FBI hostage rescue team apprehended him, leading to a 22-year prison sentence handed down in 2017. Another key figure, Mustafa al-Imam, was taken into custody the same year and is currently serving a 19-year sentence.

One can’t help but reflect that it took nearly a decade for justice to be served to Osama bin Laden post-9/11, so perhaps it isn’t astonishing that the U.S. took time to capture al-Baqosh. Yet, some argue that the Obama administration’s early response focused more on downplaying the attack’s true nature rather than pursuing the perpetrators effectively.

(And some might say this wasn’t the only misleading information surrounding the incident.)

This attack was reportedly an Islamist plot intended to mark the anniversary of 9/11, leaving the Obama administration in a state of surprise. As the November elections loomed, narratives circulated that painted it as a mere “spontaneous” protest triggered by obscure online videos.

In light of this, it’s essential to remember the words of Attorney General Pam Bondi: “If you commit a crime against an American citizen anywhere in this world, the American government will find you.”

“It may not happen overnight, but it will happen. You can run, but you can’t hide.”

Let’s hope this principle endures.