After the announcement, President Barack Obama praised the courage and professionalism of the military, law enforcement and intelligence personnel who tracked and captured Mr Abu Khattala, whom the US describes as a “key figure” in the attack.
“When Americans are attacked, no matter how long it takes we will find those responsible and we will bring them to justice,” he said.
Mr Abu Khattala has been charged in a federal court in Washington DC with killing a person in the course of an attack on a federal facility, providing material support to terrorists, and a firearms count, court records show.
On 11 September 2012, gunmen stormed the US consulate in Benghazi and set it on fire.