13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi (2016) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

The Chief insisted on a policy of caution, instructing his team to avoid confrontation and steer clear of civilians. He believed engaging could jeopardize their cover and put the entire operation at risk. This decision frustrated Rone, who felt the team should have intervened rather than risk the situation escalating.

Foreshadowing: Earlier, Rone had challenged the Chief's cautious approach, advocating for a more proactive stance at The Annex.

• chief
• command
• militants
• confrontation
• benghazi

Despite receiving orders to hold their position at The Annex, Jack and the G.R.S. team chose to assist because they heard the assault ongoing at the Special Mission Compound and knew lives were at stake. Their sense of duty and brotherhood compelled them to act, believing they were the only backup available for the defenders.

Foreshadowing: The team had already expressed frustration with the passive approach and felt their skills were being wasted waiting.

• team
• orders
• compound
• defy
• attack

The militants overwhelmed the compound guards and entered the building where Wickland had hidden Stevens and Sean Smith in a secure panic room. The attackers poured diesel fuel across the room floor and set it on fire, smoke killing both men as they were trapped inside.

Foreshadowing: Stevens had sensed something amiss in the atmosphere surrounding the compound earlier that day.

• stevens
• smith
• panic room
• militants
• fire

Glen 'Bub' Doherty, a veteran G.R.S. operative, assembled a unit in Tripoli and raced toward Benghazi to reinforce the defenders. Upon arriving at The Annex, he joined the fight but was killed during the intense militant assault when the attackers launched mortar attacks and RPG fire.

Foreshadowing: The CIA agents had successfully reached out to Doherty in Tripoli, and he immediately began organizing reinforcements.

• glen doherty
• tripoli
• mortar
• killed
• reinforcements

Jack Silva, Kris 'Tanto' Paronto, and Dave 'Boon' Benton survived the attack. Oz Geist was severely injured with a mangled arm. The surviving team members were later awarded medals for bravery in a private ceremony. Jack returned home to his wife Becky and daughters, still grieving the loss of his close friend Rone.

Foreshadowing: As dawn broke, the team faced the grim reality of their losses while still being vulnerable to further attack.

• survivors
• tanto
• boon
• oz
• medals
• return home

As dawn approached and the surviving team members were vulnerable, a convoy of Libyan soldiers arrived at The Annex with offers of assistance. Their shift from opposition to solidarity provided crucial support, helping retrieve the bodies of the fallen Americans and marking a turning point from chaos to cooperation.

Foreshadowing: Earlier, the Libyans had been part of the security infrastructure around the compounds.

• libyans
• help
• support
• dawn
• soldiers

Tyrone 'Rone' Woods was killed when the militants launched an explosive barrage during the sustained attack on The Annex. He fell victim to the RPG and mortar fire that overwhelmed the defenders. Jack witnessed his friend's death and openly grieved the loss of his dearest companion.

Foreshadowing: Rone had been at the forefront of every dangerous situation, constantly pushing against the cautious command structure.

• rone
• explosion
• rpg
• death
• friend

The Annex's leadership hesitated to leverage a response due to fear of leaving their own base vulnerable. The CIA agents worked frantically to establish communication lines with nearby airbases to secure backup. Glen Doherty was able to assemble a team from Tripoli, but support was significantly delayed.

Foreshadowing: The Chief's earlier refusal to act set the tone for the command paralysis that followed.

• military
• support
• backup
• cia
• communication

Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens was rushed into a panic room by Wickland along with Sean Smith as the militants overran the Special Mission Compound. Despite efforts to secure them, the attackers found the room, poured diesel fuel inside, and set it on fire. Both Stevens and Smith perished from smoke inhalation in the blazing room.

Foreshadowing: Stevens had sensed an ominous atmosphere surrounding the compound on the morning of September 11th.

• stevens
• ambassador
• panic room
• fire
• death

The CIA agents at The Annex raced to establish communication with nearby airbases to secure military backup. They successfully contacted Glen Doherty in Tripoli, who assembled his own unit and raced toward Benghazi. However, the response was slow and constrained by bureaucratic hesitation.

Foreshadowing: Rone had earlier identified suspicious figures near the CIA operation, hinting at intelligence failures.

• cia
• response
• communication
• backup
• airbases