The Justice Department announced Thursday that a “key participant” in the 2012 attack on the U.S. diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya, has been arrested and extradited to face charges in connection with the assault that killed four Americans.
Zubayr Al-Bakoush, 58, arrived at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland at 3 a.m. Thursday after being taken into custody abroad. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced the arrest, calling it a significant step in the long pursuit of justice for the Benghazi victims.
JUSTICE IN AMERICA.
A suspect in the 2012 Benghazi attack that killed four Americans has been brought to the U.S. to face charges.
Zubayr al-Bakoush will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
Let this be clear: if you commit a crime against the American people, the… pic.twitter.com/i6rDOC96s8
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) February 6, 2026
The September 11, 2012 attack killed U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens, State Department information officer Sean Smith, and CIA contractors Tyrone Woods and Glen Doherty. The assault became a major political flashpoint during the 2012 presidential campaign and subsequent congressional investigations.
Al-Bakoush was first charged by criminal complaint in 2015, but that filing remained sealed for 11 years. The now-unsealed eight-count indictment charges him with murder, attempted murder, terrorism, conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists, and arson.
Prosecutors allege Al-Bakoush was among the leaders of the attack on the diplomatic mission. If convicted, he faces the death penalty or life imprisonment and fines up to $250,000.
During his initial court appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Moxila Upadhyaya, Al-Bakoush said he has “complete trust in the court and jury” and expressed “confidence for justice.” He told the court he holds a bachelor’s degree in library sciences.
“I’m extremely thankful to the CIA and Director Ratcliffe and our other law enforcement partners for making sure that the world knows that if you kill an American citizen in an act of terrorism, we will hunt you down,” FBI Director Kash Patel said on Friday.
Al-Bakoush becomes the third person arrested in connection with the Benghazi attack. Ahmed Abu Khattala, considered one of the masterminds, was captured in 2014 and sentenced to 22 years in prison in 2018. Mustafa al-Imam was captured in 2017 and received a 19-year sentence.
This marks the first arrest related to Benghazi in nearly nine years.
