Ansar al-Sharia

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Inside the Life, Capture of Alleged Benghazi Ringleader

Ahmed Abu Khattalah was captured without a shot being fired

(Newser) - What now for Ahmed Abu Khattalah, the alleged mastermind of the 2012 attack on the US consulate in Benghazi who has been captured in a US raid? The administration says he will be tried in a federal criminal court, despite calls from Republican lawmakers for the Libyan to be held...

US Files 1st Charges in Benghazi Attack

Ahmed Khattalah accused in sealed indictment

(Newser) - So the Benghazi probe isn't dead: The Justice Department today filed charges against Libyan militia leader Ahmed Khattalah but kept details under wraps, CNN reports. Officials contacted by CNN refused to divulge anything or even say whether Khattalah will be detained. But Khattalah's possible involvement is nothing new:...

Debate Swirls Over Single Word in Benghazi Email

As Boehner demands email be made public

(Newser) - Republicans aren't letting up in their pursuit of the Benghazi incident, with John Boehner yesterday calling for the release of an email that he claimed would prove that the Obama administration knew from the beginning that the incident had been an attack by Islamic terrorists. Congress has seen the...

Why the US Must Help France Save Mali
 Why the US Must Help 
 France Save Mali 
OPINION
Jan 15, 2013 12:54 PM CST

Why the US Must Help France Save Mali

If not, it will become haven for terrorists: Vicki Huddleston

(Newser) - The US is reportedly going to provide more tactical help to French troops trying to keep Islamist rebels from overtaking Mali, and a former US ambassador to the country says it can't come too soon. Helping France succeed is "in our national interest," argues Vicki Huddleston in...

How CIA's 94 Words on Benghazi Got It So Wrong

'WSJ' looks at how the CIA's consulate-attack talking points came to be

(Newser) - The Wall Street Journal today takes a look at the life and death of 94 little words: the heavily edited and ultimately faulty Benghazi talking points compiled by the CIA in the wake of the consulate attack.
  • Just a day after the attack, the CIA's reports were already referencing
...

Officials: No Warning of Benghazi Compound Attack

But State Dept was aware security situation was getting worse

(Newser) - The State Department received plenty of warnings about deteriorating security in Libya before the deadly attack on the Benghazi consulate last month, but there was no specific warning that the compound would be a target, the New York Times reports. But while interviews with officials and a review of State...

Emails: Militants Quickly Took Credit for Libya Attack

But Hillary Clinton notes it was just a Facebook post

(Newser) - More information about the confusion in the days following the Sept. 11 attack on the US consulate in Libya: Emails obtained by Reuters show that scarcely more than two hours after the attack, the White House, Pentagon, and FBI were informed by the State Department's Operations Center that a...

Suspected Leader of Libya Attack Still at Large

Libyan security officials say Ahmed Abu Khattalah was at the scene: WSJ

(Newser) - Libyan security officials say Ahmed Abu Khattalah, founder of Islamist militia Ansar al-Sharia , was at the US consulate in Libya during the attack that killed Ambassador Chris Stevens—the most direct link between the militia and the attack so far, though officials have been focusing on Ansar al-Sharia for a...

Libya Army Traps Militia Blamed for Stevens' Death

But Ansar al-Sharia remains 'very dangerous': commander

(Newser) - Libya's army has blockaded the militia blamed for Ambassador Chris Stevens' death, squeezing Ansar al-Sharia into an eastern wooded region. But the fight is far from over, officials say: "They have 150 to 200 men and 17 vehicles, Toyotas, and four-by-fours," notes a commander. "These people...

FBI Agents Arrive in Benghazi to Investigate

Inquiry narrows to a handful of extremists, says AP

(Newser) - A team of FBI agents arrived in Benghazi, Libya, to investigate the assault against the US consulate and left after about 12 hours as the hunt for those connected to the attack narrowed to one or two people in an extremist group, US officials said. Agents arrived before dawn and...

Libya Gives Islamist Militias 2 Days to Get Out

11 killed amid weekend protests; CIA sees setback

(Newser) - Libya is working to drive out more armed groups after protesters' success against a militia blamed in the death of US ambassador Chris Stevens . Authorities have told "all illegitimate militias" they've got two days to "be removed from compounds and hand over their weapons to the national...

Libyans Seize HQ of Islamic Radicals

Ansar al-Sharia forces fall back without a fight

(Newser) - Hundreds of pro-democracy protesters in Benghazi declared victory today after seizing the headquarters of an extremist Muslim group linked to Chris Stevens' death, CNN reports. The demonstrators marched on a building used by the group Ansar al-Sharia, torched a car, and set free 20 or more captives without any reported...

Mitt Rips 'Disgraceful' US Response to Protest

Early statement 'sympathetic' to attackers: Romney

(Newser) - Moving quickly to make a political point following yesterday's attacks on the US diplomatic missions in Egypt and Libya, Mitt Romney called an early US statement "disgraceful" for "sympathizing" with protesters. A statement released in Cairo shortly after angry demonstrators began to gather at the embassies referred...

Yemen Army Reclaims al-Qaeda Stronghold

Gov't claims fighting fierce, but locals report militants fled last night

(Newser) - Yemeni forces have retaken the southern town of Jaar, more than a year after it was captured by al-Qaeda-linked militants, reports Reuters . The government victory could be a considerable blow to the Ansar al-Sharia militant group, which captured several southern towns last year. The fighting killed 20 militants and four...

Al-Qaeda Militants Capture Towns in Yemen

Unrest reportedly opening door for militants

(Newser) - Islamic extremists believed to be linked to al-Qaeda have capitalized on the unrest in Yemen to seize at least two southern towns over the past two weeks, in what appears to be their first major push to create a territorial stronghold in the country, the Washington Post reports. Local tribal...

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