Benghazi emerges as key recruiting ground for al-Qaida, US intel analysts say

Counterterrorism experts inside and outside the U.S. government argue that it is not an exaggeration to suggest that the region around Benghazi has become a crucial wellspring for al-Qaida that rivals even its historic breeding ground — Saudi Arabia.

“For more than two decades, a slice of eastern Libya near Benghazi, dominated by conservative bastions like the town of Derna, has served as a prolific incubator for local extremists, a surprising number of whom have surfaced as high-profile foreign combatants in conflicts ranging from Afghanistan, Bosnia, Chechnya, Iraq and now Syria,” he said.

“Several of these combatants have taken leading roles in front-line paramilitary organizations, including al-Qaida,” Kohlmann added.