The Department of Justice said Friday morning that a key figure in the 2012 Benghazi attack has been brought to the United States to face justice.
Attorney General Pam Bondi said that Zubayr al-Bakoush was captured overseas and flown to the United States, arriving at Andrews Air Force Base at 3:00 a.m. Friday morning, where he was greeted by FBI Director Kash Patel and U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro.
“Al-Bakoush will now face American justice on American soil,” Bondi said. “We will prosecute this alleged terrorist to the fullest extent of the law.”
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
NEW: Attorney General Pam Bondi announced that Zubayr Al-Bakoush, a key participant in the 2012 Benghazi terrorist attack, was arrested and arrived in the U.S. today to face justice. <a href="https://t.co/cnC0CbVSB4">pic.twitter.com/cnC0CbVSB4</a>
— Kassy Akiva (@KassyAkiva) <a href="https://twitter.com/KassyAkiva/status/2019791355665347040?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 6, 2026</a></blockquote>
Al-Bakoush will face several charges related to murder, terrorism, and arson for his role in the September 11, 2012, terrorist attack that led to the deaths of U.S. Ambassador to Libya Christopher Stevens, State Department information officer Sean Smith, and CIA contractors Glen Doherty and Tyrone Woods.
“Let this case serve as a reminder: if you commit a crime against the American people anywhere in this world, President Trump&#8217;s Justice Department will find you,” Bondi said. “It might not happen overnight, but it will happen. You can run, but you can’t hide.”
The fallout from the 2012 Benghazi attack remained a major focus in U.S. political debate for years, prompting multiple congressional investigations and high-profile hearings over security failures and the Obama administration’s response under then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Much of the criticism centered on Americans on the ground who waited 13 hours for help that never came.
Bondi said that even 14 years later, holding those responsible to account still matters.
“Hillary Clinton famously once said about Benghazi, &#8216;What difference at this point does it make?&#8217; Well, it makes a difference to Donald Trump,&#8221; said Bondi. &#8220;It makes a difference to those families. And fourteen years later, it makes a difference to law enforcement who made the difference in this case.”
Bondi said the families of the victims were “absolutely thrilled,” adding that they had “probably lost faith that something would happen.”
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
I asked Attorney General Pam Bondi what communication looked like with victims families amid today’s major Benghazi suspect arrest.
Bondi said details were kept airtight until arrest was made but they contacted afterward. <a href="https://twitter.com/realDailyWire?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realdailywire</a> <a href="https://t.co/cnoEB8Yryx">pic.twitter.com/cnoEB8Yryx</a>
— Cameron Arcand (@cameron_arcand) <a href="https://twitter.com/cameron_arcand/status/2019794468438695948?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 6, 2026</a></blockquote>
“Donald Trump never forgets,” she said.
FBI Director Patel said capturing those responsible for the attack was an early priority, adding that more suspects remain at large. He noted that the Trump administration has arrested six of the FBI’s most wanted fugitives in about one year, two more than were apprehended under the Biden administration.
In 2014, American authorities arrested militia commander Ahmed Abu Khatallah in connection with the Benghazi attack. He was acquitted in 2017 of 14 charges, including murder, but convicted of four lesser terrorism-related counts and <a href="https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/pr/ahmed-abu-khatallah-sentenced-22-years-prison-september-2012-attack-benghazi-libya">sentenced</a> to 22 years in prison. 
Al-Bakoush was first charged by a complaint in 2015, a case that remained sealed for 11 years, according to Pirro. 
“We&#8217;re here today because we have an interagency that is led by superior individuals who have one shared goal: protecting America and our lives and our future,” Patel said. “And to any others out there who wish to do harm, especially commit acts of terrorism here and around the world, this is the fate you will meet. You will not be forgotten by us. We will chase you down.”
The FBI’s Hostage Rescue Team, the FBI’s Critical Incident Response Group, and the FBI’s Special Flight Operations Unit were involved in the operation.
Pirro, who will prosecute al-Bakoush, said she had a close relationship with the victims&#8217; families while reporting on the attack for Fox News. She said she personally called the families to share the news after the suspect was arrested. 
“I spoke with Sean Smith’s mother, who I’ve known for years and have communicated with for years. I spoke with Tyrone Woods’ wife, widow, Dr. Dorothy Woods. I spoke with Ambassador Chris Stevens’ family, as well as Glen Doherty’s brother, Greg, as well as his widow. These were people who never expected that justice would be coming.”

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Kassy Akiva and Cameron Arcand

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