Timeline of Libyan insurgency

2012

September 11/12 - 2012 Benghazi Attack - when Islamic militants attacked the American diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya, killing U.S. Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens and U.S. Foreign Service Information Management Officer Sean Smith. Stevens was the first U.S. Ambassador killed in the line of duty since 1979. The attack has also been referred to as the Battle of Benghazi. Several hours later, a second assault targeted a different compound about one mile away, killing two CIA contractors, Tyrone S. Woods and Glen Doherty. Ten others were also injured in the attacks.

2015

January 27 - 2015 Corinthia Hotel attack - ISIS-affiliated men detonated a car bomb in the parking garage of the hotel. In the chaos, an estimated 5 gunmen stormed past the local guard and entered the hotel, intent on killing guests. Some of the attackers survived the initial contact, leading to a protracted hostage situation. Five foreigners died in the attack: one American, one Frenchman, and three Tajiks (including two women). The attack was carried out by ISIS-affiliated men belonging to the "Islamic State-Tripoli Province". February 15 - 2015 kidnapping and beheading of Copts in Libya - a five-minute video was published, showing the beheading of the captives on a beach along southern Mediterranean coast. 21 Egyptian Coptic Christian migrant workers that they had kidnapped three days earlier in the city of Sirte, Libya, and whom they threatened to kill to "avenge the [alleged] kidnapping of Muslim women by the Egyptian Coptic Church". February 20 - Al Qubbah bombings - Operatives loyal to Islamic State group detonated three bombs in al-Qubbah, targeting a petrol station, a police station, and the home of President of the Libyan Council of Deputies since 5 August 2014 (and effectively the country's parliamentary speaker) Aguila Saleh Issa. These attacks reportedly killed at least 40 people. June 14 - US Aairstrike on Mokhtar - 'likely' killed Al Qaeda leader in Libya. The U.S. military launched an airstrike that targeted and "likely" killed an Al Qaeda leader behind the attack on a gas plant in Algeria in 2013 that killed 35 hostages. However, an Islamist with ties to Libyan militants told the Associated Press that the airstrikes missed Mokhtar Belmokhtar, instead killing four members of a Libyan extremist group the U.S. has linked to the 2012 Benghazi attack.