In addition to those three factions , there are also smaller rival groups : the Islamist Shura Council of Benghazi Revolutionaries , led by Ansar al-Sharia , which has had the support of the GNC and was defeated Conquering in Benghazi in 2017 ; the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant 's ( ISIL 's ) Libyan provinces ; the Shura Council of Mujahideen in Derna which expelled Removing ISIL from Derna in July 2015 and was later itself defeated Conquering in Derna by the Tobruk government in 2018 ; as well as many militias and armed groups , whose allegiances often change Change .

The 2012 Benghazi attack Attack was a coordinated attack Attack against two United States government facilities in Benghazi , Libya by members of the Islamic militant group Ansar al-Sharia .

At 9:40 p.m. , September 11 , members of Ansar al-Sharia attacked Attack the American diplomatic compound Cause_to_amalgamate in Benghazi resulting in Causation the deaths Death of U.S .

They staged Hold public demonstrations condemning Judgment_communication Ansar al-Sharia , which had been formed Coming_to_be during the 2011 Libyan civil war Hostile_encounter in opposition to leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi .

Khattala has been described Statement by Libyan and U.S. officials as the Benghazi leader of Ansar al-Sharia .

The U.S. Department of State designated Deciding Ansar al-Sharia as a terrorist organization in January 2014 .