On the night of September 11, 2012, the American diplomatic mission at Benghazi, Libya, came under ferocious attack by a heavily armed group of Islamic terrorists. The prolonged firefight, and the attack hours later on a nearby CIA outpost, resulted in the deaths of four Americans, including the American ambassador to Libya. Based on the cooperation of eyewitnesses and confidential sources, the authors explore the terrifying twelve-hour ordeal confronted by the Ambassador, his security contingent, and the CIA specialists who raced to rescue them.

From the Director's desk -- Author's note -- Clarifications -- Prologue: the oncoming storm / Part I. The dawn before Benghazi. The Libyan -- The global protectors in a world at war -- 9.11.12: a fiery morning in the Arab Spring -- Libya -- Special mission Benghazi -- The special agents -- Life in critical threat -- From wheels down to lights-out / Part II. Attack. The cool of night -- Attack! Attack! -- The Annex -- Overrun -- Notifications -- The fires of the martyrs / Part III. Rescue. End of siege -- Diplomatic pouch -- Linkup -- Departures -- Contact -- Breakout -- The Cavalry / Part IV. Fire before dawn. The anonymous target -- The looters -- The terminal -- Benghazi Medical Center -- Incoming -- Aftermath -- Home / Epilogue.