by Damien Lewis
Chinook heavy-lift helicopters flying across Afghanistan—the ideal way to move without being vulnerable to attacks on the ground. Sadly, as the security situation in Benghazi deteriorated, forcing most other foreigners to leave, the U.S. Mission in Benghazi remained. Morgan Jones
Suspects held in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. As with Libya, the bad guys—Al Qaeda and affiliates—tended to dress and look pretty much like any other locals, which meant our weaponry, defenses, and teams had to be the very best.Morgan Jones
In spite of the recent civil war to topple Colonel Gaddafi’s regime, much of Libya showed little sign of war damage. The plush Corinthia Hotel, where I stayed in Tripoli, en route to Benghazi, had just the odd bullet hole in the outer walls. Morgan Jones
Benghazi airport, my entry point into the strife-torn city. It was a place of chaos and insecurity post-Gaddafi, and it would be the one exit point for all Americans who survived the attack on the U.S. Mission on September 11, 2012.
Security at Libya’s airports post–Colonel Gaddafi was run by rebel militias like the Zintan Brigade. I had to carry $30,000 in cash through the airport as wages for our guard force at the Benghazi Mission, and predictably the Zintan mob tried to beat me up and steal it. Morgan Jones
A Gaddafi-era downtown Benghazi monument, now daubed in anti-Gaddafi graffiti courtesy of the rebels who toppled his regime. Morgan Jones
At the foot of that monument. The rebels claimed that Gaddafi’s mother was a Jew, hence the star of David on the left side of his chin. Morgan Jones
Downtown Benghazi’s Tibesti Hotel. This was where I had to billet myself once our villa became too dangerous to live in. Then the Tibesti had a sixty-kilogram IED driven into the basement one night I was sleeping there. Morgan Jones
The only security I had at the Tibesti was a chair shoved under the hotel door. As the Blue Mountain guard force manager for the Benghazi Mission, I was not allowed to carry any weapons, and unbelievable as it may seem, my guard force was unarmed. Morgan Jones
The 17th February Militia, one of the rebel outfits that fought to topple Gaddafi’s regime in Libya, but one that was sympathetic to Al Qaeda. For some unknowable reason, 17th February militiamen were employed as the main armed guard force at the U.S. Mission in Benghazi. I and the Americans stationed there feared they were the enemy within. Morgan Jones
The villa and compound of the Benghazi Mission. Photo is taken from the roof of the VIP Villa—from where Dave, Scotty, and all mounted their defense the night of the attack— showing just how far it was from the main gate. Morgan Jones
The front gate of the Benghazi Mission. As with much of the security, this was inadequate: a non-armored metal gate. The roll of barbed wire was added only after the attack, to deter looters. Morgan Jones
Swimming pool and chill-out area at the Benghazi Mission. This was where the Mission’s Regional Security Officers—Dave, Scotty, and Jeff—and I would drink a (non- alcoholic) beer on the rare evening when we got downtime. Morgan Jones
The security fence at the Mission. It should have been topped off with coils of razor wire and it should have been complete: there were places where it stopped for no apparent reason. Morgan Jones
The outhouse near the side gate of the Mission, which we turned into a makeshift gym. On the night of the attack I scaled the wall and climbed onto the roof of this building, to fight my way into the Mission and try to find and rescue the trapped Americans. Morgan Jones
The rear gate of the Mission. This was where I first tried to enter the Embassy compound the night of the attack, but was fought off by a Shariah Brigade gunner. Morgan Jones
Left: British private security company Blue Mountain was contracted to provide a local Libyan guard force for the Benghazi Mission. I served for six months as their Security Manager prior to the attack, training up a force of twenty-plus Libyan guards. Andy Chittock Right: Blue Mountain trainees rehearsing an armed patrol. We trained the guard force to deal with medical trauma, to search vehicles and persons, and in attack drills and unarmed combat. Sadly, they were not allowed to carry any weapons at the Mission. In the event of an attack, orders were to raise the alarm, then save themselves. Andy Chittock
One of my Libyan guards posing as a terrorist sympathizer managed to get inside the Benghazi Mission the night of the attack to take these photos: this shows one of the Embassy’s armored SUVs having been torched by the attackers. The gunmen burned them so the Americans couldn’t get away. Zahid Arman
Embassy grounds the night of the attack, with the guardroom where my Libyan guards were captured in flames. Zahid Arman
One of the Shariah Brigade attackers “celebrates” the seizing, destruction, and firebombing of the Embassy complex on the night of the attacks. Zahid Arman
The Quick Reaction Force villa in flames, having been torched by attackers who surged into the Mission in heavily armed numbers. Zahid Arman
Terrorist gunman brandishing an AK-47 assault rifle silhouetted against the burning remains of the Mission. Four Americans would die during the attack, with more injured. Zahid Arman
The interior of the Embassy villa in the midst of the attack, showing the kind of conditions in which IT specialist Sean Smith and Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens lost their lives. Zahid Arman
The Mission swimming pool during the attack. Smoke rises from the main building behind and debris is floating in the pool. Zahid Arman
The Benghazi Mission main compound gets firebombed. The attackers used diesel fuel and petrol to set the buildings alight. Zahid Arman
The Benghazi Medical Center, better known as the 1200 Bed Hospital, where I would discover the body of Ambassador Stevens the night of the attack. I found him lying dead and unidentified on a hospital trolley. I sent out a photo and message to alert the powers that be that the American Ambassador to Libya had been killed. Morgan Jones
Burned-out remains of the Mission’s Tactical Operations Center (TOC), where all sensitive documents were stored. The morning after the attack I went back to photograph the crime scene and search for the bodies of any of my dead American friends. Morgan Jones
Firebombed and smashed–up front entrance to the VIP Villa, the building in which the ambassador and Sean Smith died. Morgan Jones
Burned-out front entrance to the TOC. Graffiti to the left side of the doorway reads “Mohammed is the Prophet of Allah” and that on the right reads “Allahu Akbar— God is great!” Morgan Jones
Wrecked and burned-out interior of the Mission canteen, where I used to share meals and jokes with Scotty, Dave, Jeff, and the others. Morgan Jones
A Navy SEAL operator in action overseas. On the night of the attack, a force of six ex-SEALs and other elite operators on contract to the CIA launched a heroic mission to rescue those trapped. U.S. Navy SEALS
Navy SEALs in action overseas. Two former SEALs—Tyrone Woods and Glen Doherty— would lose their lives that fateful night in Benghazi. U.S. Navy
An MQ1 Predator unmanned aerial vehicle or drone of the type flown over the Mission and Annex the night of the attack. However, this one is armed, and the one over Benghazi was not. U.S. Air Force
Mansour, one of my Libyan guards who was captured and shot in the legs by the Shariah Brigade gunmen. The attackers let the captured guards live, because they had attacked with one intent only—to “kill the Americans.” Zahid Arman
Glen Anthony Doherty, former U.S. Navy SEAL from SEAL Team 3, who was killed the night of the Embassy attack. Michael Shannon
Tyrone “Ty” Woods, former U.S. Navy SEAL, who led the heroic six-man team to rescue Americans trapped at the Embassy. He was killed later that night by the Shariah Brigade. Credit unknown
Sean Smith, the IT specialist at the Mission, who died during the attack. He had been at the Mission only a matter of days when the attack came. Morgan Jones
American Ambassador to Libya J. Christopher Stevens, who was killed the night of the attack. He spoke fluent Arabic and was a consummate diplomat and a real gentlem
an. He—like many other U.S. personnel—had repeatedly asked Washington for more guards and security, but little, if anything, was provided. U.S. Dept. of State
1. Having gone over the wall, I pause on the rooftop position to observe the attackers and scan for any Americans left alive and fighting in there.
2. From the cover of the orchard I see the canteen and the Tactical Operations Centre (TOC) burning where the attackers have fire-bombed them.
3. In the cover of the bushes that line the dividing wall, I stumble into my first dead Shariah Brigade fighter who had attacked the U.S. Mission in Benghazi.
4. Forced to emerge from cover, I bluff my way across the open ground of the side driveway, posing as one of the attackers.
5. I take cover in the concrete dog kennels to watch Villa C (the VIP Villa), the location the Americans retreated to as a last-ditch defensive position.
6. I push through the cover of the orchard to a position where I can see the VIP Villa burning and smoke-blackened. I scan the rooftop, desperate to see my American friends putting down defensive fire from up there.
7. I see no Americans left alive or fighting, but I push on to the entrance of the VIP Villa, where there are scores of Shariah Brigade fighters milling about, chanting and letting off gunfire.
8. I am finally challenged by one of the attackers and forced to break my cover and fight.
9. Realizing that all the Americans must have been either captured or killed, I make a fighting withdrawal toward the rear gate–the last thing I need to check.
10. I see the gate is open and that the Mission’s armored SUV–the escape vehicle–is gone. A sudden ray of hope: maybe some of my American buddies did get out alive.
11. I exit via the rear gate and use my cell phone to call in Zahid and Akram, two of my local guard force, who pick me up in our vehicle.
