Investigation
In the Enemy's Pocket: Al-Qaeda's Lord of War
Our investigative findings expose a troubling truth: behind the cloak of national security, taxpayer funds are fueling the arsenal of Al-Qaeda's Lord of War, Abdul Azim Ali Musa bin Ali.
His journey—from the battlefields of Afghanistan with the mujahideen to leading covert operations for core Al-Qaeda, and now returning to Afghanistan—reveals the staggering cost of ignorance. Known simply as 'Musa,' this terrorist has been the primary focus of our Benghazi investigation.
- Recent developments reveal that Musa is diverting U.S. funds, originally designated for the Taliban Government, to both Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State – Khorasan Province (ISKP), while also aiding a terrorist plot in Lebanon. Given the increasing urgency of this threat, we have decided to publicly release our investigative file on Musa, sharing findings from a decade of tracking him. Meet Musa: Al-Qaeda's Lord of War.
Year in Review, September 2022-September 2023
Grateful for the incredible support during the past year as we pursued our investigation, post our public announcement.
📢 Check out the latest photo lineup for updates: https://lnkd.in/eEWjZZiT
🎯 Newly Identified Attackers:
(1) Essam al-Darsi - Full name: Essam Younes Abdul Rasoul bin Ali al-Darsi
(2) Jibril el-Kebti - Full name: Omar Fawzi Omar Jibreel elKebti
(3) Ashraf Sultan - Full name: Ashraf Salim Abd al-Salam Sultan (added to lineup)
🎯 Newly Identified Cell: The CIA Annex mortar attack team were members of the Ali Hassan al-Jaber Battalion, a cell within the Rafallah al-Sahati Brigades
KIA:
❌Mahdi Dango - Killed on September 7th, 2022 by the Libyan National Army
Status Update:
👤Hassan al-Karami is reportedly alive and at-large (added to lineup)
Legal Developments:
⚖️ Ahmed al-Mushaiti aka Asseda - Sentenced to death. As Asseda won't be returning to the streets, we'll omit him from the next lineup. However, for this September 2023 update, he's still included to mark his new status.
Detention Report:
🔐 Imad al-Awami is confirmed in RADA Special Deterrence Forces custody in Tripoli (updated photo added to lineup)
🔐 Ayman Bouamoud is confirmed in custody in Misrata
Release Announcements:
🗂️Abdullah Bouzkia has been confirmed as released
🗂️Younes al-Faydi has been confirmed as released (added to lineup)
🗂️Emad al-Shuqabi has been confirmed as released (added to lineup)
🗂️Atef al-Karami received only a 6-year prison sentence, served his time, and is now reportedly free
🗂️Ziad Balaam was detained at the Istanbul Airport in Turkey in July and intentionally freed by Libyan interim Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh (hence—"Know Thy Enemy”)
Benghazi: Know Thy Enemy Master Attacker List
The Masterminds
The first five terrorists listed are known as "The Masterminds," referring to the senior plotters involved in the attacks on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi and CIA Annex in September 2012:
(1) Dr. Ayman al-Zawahiri, al-Qa’ida’s former Leader who directed the attack
(2) Abdel Malek Droukdal, al-Qa’ida in the Islamic Maghreb’s (AQIM) Leader in 2012 who tasked the kidnapping plot
(3) Mokhtar Belmokhtar, AQIM Battalion Commander who was the Mastermind of the U.S Consulate attack
(4) Wissam Bin Humaid, Libya Shield One Leader who was the Mastermind of the CIA Annex attack
(5) Omar al-Shalaali, AQIM’s Leader for Libya who was the head al-Qa’ida Commander on the ground directing the attacks on the U.S. Consulate
Power Players
The individuals numbered 6 through 19 are the senior leaders responsible for orchestrating the attacks on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi and the CIA Annex:
(6) Harith al-Nadhari, AQAP Senior Sharia Official who issued the fatwa to justify the attack under Islamic principles
(7) Yahya Abu al-Hammam, Deputy AQIM Leader who planned the kidnapping operation with Abdel Malek Droukdal and Mokhtar Belmokhtar
(8) Mohammed al-Gharabi, Rafallah al-Sahati Brigade Leader, who was the most senior al-Qa’ida Commander based in Benghazi in 2012
(9) Ismail al-Sallabi, 17 February Martyrs Brigade and Rafallah al-Sahati Brigade Founder, second most senior al-Qa’ida Commander based in Benghazi in 2012
(10) Mohammad al-Zahawi, Ansar al-Sharia-Benghazi (AAS-B) Leader who planned both the 2012 U.S. Consulate attack and the 2013 In Amenas, Algeria attack with AQIM’s Mokhtar Belmokhtar
(11) Hashem Bousidra, AQIM’s Mali Group, who was the Mali Group Commander at the U.S. Consulate attack
(12) Boubaker al-Hakim, al-Qa’ida Commander who operated al-Qa’ida’s training camp infrastructure at its base in Benghazi in 2012
(13) Abu Bara al-Jazairi, AQIM’s al-Mulathameen Battalion who lead Mokhtar Belmokhtar’s personal Battalion attackers at the U.S. Consulate attack
(14) Mohammad Jamal, al-Qa’ida in Egypt (AQE) Leader who supplied attackers from Egypt for the U.S. Consulate attack
(15) Murjan Salim, AQE Senior Leader who was involved in promoting al-Qa’ida kidnapping for prisoner swap efforts
(16) Salem Darby, Abu Salim Martyrs Brigade Leader, who supplied attackers from Darnah, Libya for the U.S. Consulate attack
(17) Sufyan bin Qumo, Ansar al-Sharia-Darnah Leader who also supplied attackers from Darnah, Libya for the U.S. Consulate attack
(18) Boka al-Oraibi, Libya Shield Two Leader who supported the attack on the CIA Annex on September 12, 2012
(19) Abu Khalid al-Madani, AAS-B’s senior Sharia official who provided religious top cover for the group’s involvement in the U.S. Consulate attack.
***Adding Fawzi bu Khalif, Nasir al-Wuhayshi and Seifullah ben Hassine
Brothers in Arms
The attackers numbered 20 through 133 are referred to as the "Brothers in Arms." They represent the terrorists involved in the six attacks that took place over the course of September 11th and September 12th, 2012. (It should be noted that within the category of "Brothers in Arms," there remain approximately 30-40 terrorists who have yet to be identified.)
(20) Hamdi Abbasi, full name Hamdi Ali Abu Bakr Abbasi
(21) Adel Ahmad al-Abdali
(22) Rashid Abdullah
(23) Hafiz al-Aqouri, full name Hafiz Salem Zaid al-Aqouri
(24) Khaled al-Ammari, full name Khaled Masoud Saeed al-Ammari
(25) Mohammad al-Ammari, full name Mohammad Masoud Saeed al- Ammari
(26) Muftah al-Ammari, full name Muftah Masoud Saeed al-Ammari
(27) Tariq Amitiq, full name Tariq Mohammad Salem Amitiq
(28) Marei al-Arfi, full name Marei Saleh Mohammad Hamad al-Arfi
(29) Imad al-Awami, full name Imad Mohammad Abdullah al-Awami
(30) Mahmoud al-Awami, full name Mahmoud Idris Musa al-Awami
(31) Taher al-Awami, full name Taher Mustafa Mohammad al-Awami
(32) Yousef al-Awami, full name Yousef Idris Musa al-Awami
(33) Mohammed al-Ayouni, full name Mohammed bin Salem al-Ayouni
(34) Abdel-Qader Azzouz, full name Abdel-Qader Abdel-Salam Abdel-Qader Azzouz
(35) Hamid Azzouz, full name Hamid Abdel-Salam Abdel-Qader Azzouz
(36) Jaafar Azzouz, full name Jaafar Abdel-Salam Abdel-Qader Azzouz
(37) Zubayr al-Bakoush, full name Zubayr Hassan Omar al-Bakoush
(38) Ziad Balaam, full name Farid Mohammad Muhammed Balaam
(39) Mahmoud al-Barassi, full name Mahmoud Ali al-Barassi
(40) Marwan al-Barki, full name Marwan Hassan al-Barki
(41) Omar al-Barki, full name Omar Mohamed Zayed al-Barki
(42) Ayman Bouamoud, full name Ayman Faraj Hassan Bouamoud al-Bargathi
(43) Zakaria al-Bargathi
(44) Walid al-Barnawi, full name Walid Abdel Qader Mohammed al-Barnawi
(45) Salim Bayou, full name Salim Mustafa Nasser Bayou
(46) Bashir Bounekhla
(47) Abdullah Bouzkia, full name Abdullah Mohamed Mohamed Bouzkia
(48) Ahmed Buhajar, full name Ahmed Mukhtar Buhajar
(49) Mohamed Ben Dardaf, full name Mohammad Mohammad Mahmoud bin Dardaf
(50) Mahdi Dango
(51) Essam al-Darsi, full name Essam Younes Abdul Rasoul bin Ali al-Darsi
(52) Youssef al-Darsi, full name Youssef Ibrahim Mohammed al-Darsi
(53) Ayman Shahat al-Dijawi
(54) Hamad al-Fakhri, full name Hamad Noah Younis al-Fakhri
(55) Fawzi al-Faydi, full name Fawzi Mahmoud Ahleel al-Faydi
(56) Khaled al-Faydi, full name Khaled Ali Salem al-Faydi
(57) Younes al-Faydi, full name Younes al-Kish al-Faydi
(58) Imad al-Gharyani, full name Imad Mohammad Mohammad al-Gharyani
(59) Mahdi Saad al-Ghaythi, full name Al-Mahdi Saad al-Mahdi Boulbeid al-Ghaythi
(60) Abu Hamza al-Tabawi, real name Ali Mohammad al-Toghi Hammadi
(61) Suhaib al-Hamroush, full name Suhaib Awad al-Hamroush
(62) Faisal bin Hariz, full name Faisal Mohammad Ali bin Hariz
(63) Hudhayfah bin Hariz, full name Hudhayfah Mohammad Ali bin Hariz
(64) Talal bin Hariz, full name Talal Mohammad Ali bin Hariz
(65) Ali Ouni al-Harzi, full name Ali bin al-Tahar bin al-Falih al-’Awni al-Harzi
(66) Faraj Shakku, real name Faraj Musa al-Hasnawi
(67) Ahmed Hazaa, full name Ahmed el-Sayed Hazaa Hassan
(68) Hani al-Hawari
(69) Anis al-Houti, full name Anis Faraj Abd al-Salam Mohammad al-Amin
(70) Qais bin Humaid
(71) Mustafa al-Imam, full name Mustafa Mohamed al-Imam
(72) Mohammad Jaafar, full name Mohammad Hassan Rajab Jaafar
(73) Abdel Moneim al-Jahawi, full name Abdel Moneim Ibrahim al-Jahawi
(74) Jibril el-Kebti, full name Omar Fawzi Omar Jibreel elKebti
(75) Munther al-Kubti, full name Munther Mansour al-Kubti
(76) Atef al-Karami, full name Atef Mustafa Mohammad al-Karami
(77) Hassan al-Karami, full name Hassan Mohammad Abdullah al-Karami
(78) Ahmed bin Nasser Karim
(79) Ali al-Karshini, full name Ali Mohammad Mohammad Ibrahim al-Karshini
(80) Xris Katsiroubus, full name Xristos Nikolaos Katsiroubus
(81) Abu Yaqin al-Libi, real name Mohammad Fawzi Al-Senussi al-Kawafi
(82) Mohammad al-Kawil, full name Mohammad Hamad Ali al-Kawil
(83) Amin Kelfa, full name Amin Ali Meloud Kelfa
(84) Marei Zoghbi, full name Marei Abdel-Fattah Khalil
(85) Malik al-Khazmi, full name Al-Sadiq Salem al-Khazmi
(86) Anis al-Khurram, full name Anis Abdel Salam al-Khurram
(87) Alaa al-Kilani, full name Alaa el-Din Salem Hassan al-Kilani
(88) Salem al-Lawati, full name Salem Yassin Ali al-Lawati
(89) Ahmed al-Majbari, full name Ahmed Abdel Rahim al-Majbari
(90) Muharib al-Majbari, full name Muharib Musa Mohammad al-Majbari
(91) Jalal Makhzoum, full name Jalal Ahmed Mohammad Makhzoum
(92) Marei al-Manfi, full name Marei Mohammed Hassan al-Manfi
(93) Mohammad al-Manfi, full name Mohammad Abd al-Salam al-Manfi
(94) Mohammad Jaber Abd al-Maqsoud, full name Mohammad Jaber Abd al-Wahhab Abd al-Maqsoud
(95) Hamza al-Darnawi, real name Abd al-Hamid Mohammad Abd al-Hamid Masli
(96) Ali Medlej
(97) Asmi Ahmed, full name Asmi Ahmed Mohamedin
(98) Ahmed al-Munfi, full name Ahmed Murtaha Mukhtar al-Munfi
(99) Ahmed al-Mushaiti, full name Ahmed Hassan al-Sharif Mohammed al-Mushaiti
(100) Hamza al-Mushaiti
(101) Majdi al-Mushaiti, full name Majdi al-Maliq al-Ghanai al-Mushaiti
(102) Salah al-Mushaiti, full name Salah al-Din Ali Ibsekri al-Mushaiti
(103) Shoaib al-Mushaiti, full name Shoaib Ali Ibsekri Shoaib al-Mushaiti
(104) Khalid Nayhum
(105) Abdulaziz al-Obaidi, full name Mohammad Abdulaziz al-Mahdi al-Obaidi
(106) Abu Zaid al-Shalawi, full name Abu Zaid Mohammad al-Shalawi al-Obaidi
(107) Osama al-Obaidi, full name Osama Abdullah al-Ghaythi al-Obaidi
(108) Karim Moawad al-Rahmani, full name Karim Moawad Mohammad al-Rahmani
(109) Adel al-Rubaie
(110) Ramadan al-Rubaie, full name Ramadan Mohammad al-Rubaie
(111) Ismail Sakarya
(112) Yunus Emre Sakarya
(113) Hamza al-Sallak, full name Muftah Hamza al-Sallak
(114) Khaled al-Saqzli, full name Khaled Abdelwahab Mustafa al-Saqzli
(115) Mansour al-Shaalali, full name Mansour Juma al-Shaalali
(116) Abdul Hamid al-Shaeri, full name Abdul Hamid Saad Abdul Karim al-Shaeri
(117) Hassan al-Shukri, full name Hassan Musa al-Kilani al-Shukri
(118) Abdul-Ati Abu Sitta, full name Abdul-Ati al-Shtiwi Abu Sitta
(119) Nouri al-Shtiwi Abu Sitta
(120) Emad al-Shuqabi, full name Emad Faraj Mansour al-Shuqabi
(121) Majdi al-Suwaie, full name Majdi Abdel Moneim Mohammad al-Suwaie
(122) Ali bin Taher, full name Ali Abdullah Muftah bin Taher
(123) Ahmed al-Tajouri, full name Ahmed Ibrahim Attia Hamad al-Tajouri
(124) Islam al-Tarhouni, full name Islam Ahmed al-Muntasir Belaid al-Mahdawi al-Tarhouni
(125) Ramadan Trabelsi, full name Ramadan Tawfiq Abdullah Trabelsi
(126) Faraj al-Chalabi, full name Faraj Husayn Hasan al-Shalabi al-Urfi
(127) Mansour al-Urfi, full name Mansour Abdel Salam al-Tariki al-Urfi
(128) Hussein al-Wahishi
(129) Mahmoud al-Wahishi, full name Mahmoud Saad Hussein Abdul Ghani al-Wahishi
(130) Mohammad al-Werfalli, full name Mohammad Ali Masoud bin Jaber al-Werfalli
(131) Idris al-Zawi, full name Idris Othman Abu Bakr al-Zawi
(132) Jamaica, real name Yahya Abdel-Syed Saleh al-Zawi
(133) Hussam bin Hassouna al-Zaytouni, full name Hussam bin Hassouna Abdullah al-Zaytouni
***Adding Ashraf Sultan
