Justice Department Says Alleged “Key Participant” Zubayr al-Bakoush Is Now In Custody & Will Be Prosecuted In Washington, D.C.

Sunday, February 8, 2026, 9:30 A.M. ET. 4 Minute Read, By Jennifer Hodges, Political Editor: Englebrook Independent News,

WASHINGTON, DC.- A man federal officials describe as a “key participant” in the September 11, 2012, terrorist attack on U.S. facilities in Benghazi, Libya, an assault that killed four Americans, has been transferred into United States custody and flown to Virginia to face federal charges, according to the Department of Justice.

     The suspect was identified as Zubayr (also spelled Zubayar) al-Bakoush, whom authorities say was affiliated with an extremist militia operating in eastern Libya at the time of the attack. U.S. officials said al-Bakoush had been sought by American law enforcement for more than fourteen years in connection with one of the deadliest assaults on U.S. diplomatic personnel since the 1980s.

     Attorney General Pam Bondi formally announced al-Bakoush’s return to the United States during a Friday news conference, joined by FBI Director Kash Patel and U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro, whose office is expected to prosecute the case.

Where The Benghazi Attacks Took Place, And Who Was Killed;

     Federal investigators say the September 11, 2012, attack was a coordinated assault targeting two U.S.-linked facilities in Benghazi, Libya.

     The first target was the U.S. Special Mission diplomatic compound, often referred to publicly as the U.S. consulate compound. Armed attackers breached the compound’s perimeter, set buildings ablaze, and forced personnel to flee. The fires claimed the lives of U.S. Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens and State Department Information Officer Sean Smith.

     Surviving personnel regrouped at a nearby U.S. security facility commonly referred to as the annex. Later that night, attackers launched a second, highly coordinated assault, including a precision mortar attack. That barrage killed Tyrone S. Woods and Glen Doherty, both former U.S. Navy SEALs working as security contractors.

     All four Americans died in the course of the nearly eight-hour attack.

The Charges: Murder, Attempted Murder, Arson, And Terrorism Offenses;

     According to court filings and public statements from the Justice Department, al-Bakoush faces an eight-count federal indictment tied directly to the Benghazi attack.

     The charges include:

• Murder of U.S. personnel
• Attempted murder of U.S. personnel
• Arson of U.S. facilities
• Conspiracy to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization

     Officials said al-Bakoush arrived early Friday at a secure airfield in Virginia following what FBI Director Patel described as a “transfer of custody.” Federal authorities declined to identify the country where al-Bakoush was apprehended, citing operational and security concerns.

Bondi And Patel: “We Have Never Stopped Seeking Justice;”

     “We have never stopped seeking justice for that crime against our nation,” Attorney General Bondi said during Friday’s announcement.

     Bondi confirmed that al-Bakoush is now in U.S. custody and will face prosecution in federal court. FBI Director Patel stated that the arrest was the result of years of intelligence coordination and investigative persistence, emphasizing that the passage of time would not shield perpetrators from accountability.

Hillary Clinton’s Role, And The Political Reckoning;

     At the time of the Benghazi attack, Hillary Clinton served as Secretary of State. The attack quickly became a national controversy over diplomatic security, intelligence warnings, and the Obama administration’s public messaging in the days following the assault.

     Multiple congressional investigations, including a Republican-led House Select Committee, ultimately faulted the administration for security shortcomings and criticized elements of the government’s response. However, those investigations did not find criminal wrongdoing by Clinton.

     That conclusion, while legally significant, did little to quiet public outrage. For many Americans, Benghazi came to symbolize a broader frustration with Washington accountability, particularly when contrasted with the consequences faced by those on the ground.

     Bondi echoed that sentiment Friday, referencing Clinton’s now-infamous 2013 testimony remark,“What difference, at this point, does it make?” and stating that the arrest demonstrates the case still matters to federal law enforcement and to the families of the fallen.

A Continuing Federal Effort;

     Al-Bakoush becomes the third Benghazi-related defendant brought to the United States for prosecution. Previous cases include Ahmed Abu Khattala, captured in 2014 and convicted in 2017, and Mustafa al-Imam, captured in 2017 and convicted in 2019.

     Federal officials said al-Bakoush was expected to make his initial appearance in U.S. District Court later on Friday.

Editor’s Note:

This report was written by Jennifer Hodges, Political Editor, and is based on same-day public reporting and official statements regarding the arrest, transfer, and indictment of Zubayr/Zubayar al-Bakoush in connection with the September 11, 2012, Benghazi terrorist attack. The identities of the four Americans killed, Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens, Sean Smith, Tyrone S. Woods, and Glen Doherty, are confirmed across multiple contemporaneous sources. While congressional investigations did not find criminal wrongdoing by then–Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, they did identify security failures and response deficiencies. Englebrook Independent News notes that legal culpability and political accountability are distinct standards, and that justice for the victims has remained a federal priority for more than a decade.