Zubair al-Bakoush, a Libyan national, arrived at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland early Friday morning to face trial in U.S. courts for his alleged involvement in the 2012 assault on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced that al-Bakoush was transported under heavy security following his apprehension in an undisclosed foreign nation. She emphasized Washington’s unwavering commitment to seeking justice for the deaths of Ambassador Christopher Stevens and three other Americans. According to the FBI and U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro, al-Bakoush—identified by U.S. authorities as a primary suspect—faces an eight-count indictment including murder, terrorism, and arson.
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Conversely, the extradition has sparked significant backlash within Libya. Tamim al-Ghiryani, former head of the Crisis Committee and a prominent figure among Benghazi’s displaced, dismissed the allegations and asserted al-Bakoush’s innocence. Al-Ghiryani noted that the 55-year-old Scout leader had previously undergone a rigorous interrogation by a U.S. team in Tripoli in 2020, resulting in his release due to a lack of evidence. He suggested that the revival of these charges might be a tactical move to divert the American public’s attention from domestic issues.
Furthermore, Ahmed Hamza, director of the National Institution for Human Rights, condemned the transfer, labeling al-Bakoush’s recent detention in Tripoli as “arbitrary.” Hamza argued that judicial jurisdiction over the incident belongs strictly to the Libyan legal system, recalling that al-Bakoush had been investigated and cleared by the Libyan Public Prosecutor as far back as 2016. This development reopens a complex legal and political file, echoing the previous U.S. convictions of Libyan citizens Ahmed Abu Khattala and Mustafa al-Imam, while highlighting the ongoing dispute over the legality of trying Libyan nationals abroad.