13 Years Later: Benghazi Suspect Finally Caught

After 13 years of delays and dodged accountability, the Trump Justice Department says one of the Benghazi attackers is finally in U.S. custody.

Quick Take

Attorney General Pam Bondi announced the FBI arrested Zubayr (also spelled Zubayar) al-Bakoush, described as a key participant in the 2012 Benghazi terror attack.
Officials said al-Bakoush was captured overseas, transferred to Andrews Air Force Base around 3 a.m. on Feb. 6, 2026, and is now facing federal charges.
The unsealed federal case in Washington, D.C., includes charges such as murder, attempted murder, arson, and providing material support to terrorists.
DOJ leaders said the investigation spans multiple agencies and years, and they signaled additional suspects could still be pursued.

Bondi’s Announcement Puts Benghazi Back on the Front Page

Attorney General Pam Bondi used a Feb. 6, 2026, Justice Department press conference to announce the arrest of Zubayr al-Bakoush, whom officials identified as a key participant in the Sept. 11, 2012, Benghazi attack that killed four Americans. Bondi credited the FBI’s work and framed the arrest as long-overdue accountability. Officials did not provide operational details about where the capture occurred, saying only that it happened overseas.

Officials said al-Bakoush arrived in the United States at Andrews Air Force Base at about 3 a.m. and is now in U.S. custody. Prosecutors in Washington, D.C., unsealed an indictment described as 13 pages, with reports noting seven or eight counts tied to the assault. Bondi and other DOJ leaders emphasized that time does not erase responsibility in terrorism cases, and they presented the arrest as a message to any remaining suspects.

What the Indictment Alleges About al-Bakoush’s Role

According to the case outlined by federal officials, al-Bakoush is accused of participating in the attack on U.S. facilities in Benghazi, Libya, including actions at the main diplomatic compound. Reports describing the allegations say militants breached the main gate, set fires, and killed Ambassador Chris Stevens and State Department employee Sean Smith. Al-Bakoush allegedly entered the compound after fires started, conducted surveillance-type activity, and tried to access vehicles on the property.

The attack also included a later mortar strike on a nearby CIA annex that killed CIA contractors Tyrone Woods and Glen Doherty. The charges discussed publicly include murder, attempted murder, arson, and providing material support to terrorists. While the government has not laid out every evidentiary detail in public statements, the decision to unseal the case and move quickly to court suggests prosecutors believe the evidence meets federal standards for a terrorism prosecution.

Why This Arrest Matters After Years of Public Frustration

Benghazi never became “just another tragedy” for many Americans because the deaths were followed by years of political blame-shifting and questions about preparedness, security, and truthful public explanations. The arrest does not settle those historic debates, but it does reopen a case that families have lived with since 2012. Officials said families were contacted ahead of the announcement, and reports described relatives reacting with shock that an arrest took so long.

From a limited-government perspective, the biggest test now is competence and follow-through: a justice system that can identify, track, and prosecute those who attacked Americans abroad without turning the process into a political show. Bondi’s statement that suspects can run but cannot hide is rhetoric, but the meaningful measure will be what comes next—court proceedings that withstand scrutiny, clear presentation of evidence, and lawful sentencing if guilt is proven.

How the Case Fits With Prior Benghazi Prosecutions

This arrest is not the first Benghazi-related prosecution, but it is the first in years that officials have publicly tied to a “key participant.” Previous cases include Ahmed Abu Khatallah, captured in 2014 and convicted on non-murder charges, later resentenced to 28 years in 2024. Another suspect, Mustafa al-Imam, was captured in 2017, convicted in 2019, and sentenced to 19 years, illustrating how complex overseas terrorism cases can be.

Officials said the al-Bakoush matter traces back to a sealed 2015 complaint and involved coordination among the FBI, State Department, and CIA to track him overseas. That detail matters because it signals an investigation that never fully died, even if public momentum faded. With President Trump back in office and new leadership at DOJ and the FBI, this announcement also puts pressure on the government to show whether more arrests are realistic—or whether this suspect is the last reachable link.