A US airstrike in northern Iraq has killed an Islamic State operative who was a person of interest in the 2012 Benghazi attack, the Pentagon has said.
Al-Hazri had operated with militants associated with the Islamic State, or ISIL, throughout North Africa and the Middle East, said Col. Steve Warren, a Pentagon spokesman.
“Today’s announcement by the Department of Defense that they targeted and killed Ali Awni al Harzi, an ISIL leader, is an important reminder to terrorists who target Americans - you won’t be safe anywhere”, said Rep. Adam Schiff of California, the ranking Democratic on the House Intelligence Committee.
That assault on U.S. facilities killed four Americans, including Ambassador Christopher Stephens.
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Al-Harzi was said to be closely linked to ISIS fighters in Iraq and had previously helped extremists from North Africa go to Syria.
United States officials announced that a drone strike in Iraq killed 2012 Benghazi attack suspect Ali Awni al-Harzi (pictured) last week.
Tunisian authorities said there was not enough evidence tying him to the attack in Libya. “He is also suspected of involvement in their hostage program, and to have played a role in the 2011 attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi that tragically killed four Americans, including Ambassador Chris Stevens”.
In April, the State Department designated al-Harzi as a “specially designated Global Terrorist”. When he was deported to Tunisia, the United States pressed to interview him about his possible role in the consulate attack.
The Treasury said Harzi had arranged for IS to receive about USD 2 million from a Qatar-based financial facilitator in September 2013 who required that he only use the funds for military operations.
