Second Benghazi Suspect Nabbed in Special Operation

U.S. special operations forces and the FBI captured a man suspected to have been involved in the deadly 2012 attack on American facilities in Benghazi, Libya, according to media reports. 

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson confirmed the capture of Mustafa al-Imam in a short statement today. Tillerson said he was "deeply grateful to the U.S. military, law enforcement, and intelligence community for their efforts to bring to justice the perpetrators" of the Sept. 11, 2012 attack.

Al-Imam is the second Benghazi suspect to be arrested. The other man, Abu Khatallah, is currently on trial in Washington, D.C.

READ: Exclusive: In Benghazi Trial, Brother of Slain CIA Contractor Awaits 'Some Kind of Justice'

The New York Times reported that the capture operation in Libya was carried out by a team of U.S. Navy SEALs along with the FBI's elite Hostage Rescue Team. The military's Joint Special Operations Command reportedly had the suspect under surveillance for some time, along with others believed to have been involved in the 2012 attack. ABC News reported al-Imam was captured Saturday and transferred to a U.S. naval vessel and may still be aboard -- which is the same procedure U.S. authorities used after Khatallah's capture in 2014.

The FBI has sought information on more than a dozen men captured on surveillance video during the Sept. 11, 2012 attack for five years, but has made little headway in capturing suspects, Khatallah and al-Imam notwithstanding.

Four Americans were killed in the 2012 attack: U.S. Ambassador to Libya Chris Stevens, State Department technical specialist Sean Smith, and CIA contractors Glen Doherty and Tyrone Woods. Greg Doherty, Glen's older brother, told Code and Dagger earlier this month that he was hoping Khatallah's trial would result in some measure of justice, but he was resigned to the idea that most, if not all, of the other suspects would likely not be captured.

In his statement, Tillerson said, "The Department of State family continues to mourn the loss of Ambassador Chris Stevens, Glen Doherty, Sean Smith, and Tyrone Woods, and we will spare no effort to ensure that justice is served for these dedicated Americans and public servants."

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