2014 American raid in Libya

The 2014 American raid in Libya refers to the capture of Ahmed Abu Khattala by U.S. troops and law enforcement agents during a late night raid in Libya. The raid was carried out on a coastal villa and seized Khattala before bringing him aboard a U.S. warship to be brought to the United States for legal proceedings.

2014 American raid in Libya
Part of U.S. retaliation for the Benghazi attack, Insurgency in the Maghreb
DateJune 14, 2014
Location
Unknown location in Libya
Result American victory
Belligerents
United States United States Ansar al-Sharia
Commanders and leaders
United States Barack Obama Ahmed Khattala (POW)
Strength
Delta Force troops
FBI agents
Casualties and losses
None 1 captured

Background

Ahmed Abu Khattala, a former prisoner under the Gaddafi regime and Ansar al-Sharia senior commander, was charged in a sealed indictment in August 2013 for his role in the attack on a U.S. diplomatic facility in Benghazi which killed four Americans, including the U.S. ambassador, J. Christopher Stevens. In 2013, Abu Anas al-Libi, a Libyan militant wanted for his role in the 1998 United States embassy bombings was seized in Tripoli by U.S. troops.[1]

Raid

On the night of 14–15 June 2014, Abu Khattala was lured by an informant to an isolated coastal villa in Libya where he was seized by Delta Force operators and FBI agents. According to court records, Abu Khattala was armed with a handgun, violently resisted capture, and was wounded during the capture, requiring medical treatment. He was handcuffed, blindfolded, gagged, and earmuffed before being transported to the USS New York which transported him to Washington, D.C.[2][3][4]

Aftermath

Abu Khattala was convicted to a 22-year prison sentence on four terrorism-related charges in November 2017.[5]

His sentence was overturned in July 2022 by a DC Circuit Court of Appeals who ruled that a 22-year sentence was too short given the gravity of Khattala's crimes and the vital need to deter such crimes.[6] Khattala was remanded and is awaiting resentencing.

References
  1. "US seizes Benghazi raid 'ringleader'". BBC News. 2014-06-18. Retrieved 2018-03-11.
  2. "Benghazi Suspect Ahmed Abu Khattala Could be in U.S. by Week's End". NBC News. 23 June 2014. Retrieved 28 June 2014.
  3. DeYoung, Karen; Goldman, Adam; Tate, Julie (June 17, 2014). "U.S. captures Benghazi suspect in secret raid". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 25 June 2014.
  4. Shabad, Rebecca (2014-06-17). "US special forces nab suspected Benghazi ringleader in secret raid". The Hill. Retrieved 2018-03-11.
  5. "Benghazi 'ringleader' cleared of murder". BBC News. 2017-11-28. Retrieved 2018-03-11.
  6. "Benghazi terrorist's 22-year sentence is 'unreasonably low,' appeals court rules". Fox News. 26 July 2022.
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