Sarah Adams, a former CIA operations officer and prominent counter-terrorism analyst, has dropped a political bombshell regarding the deep infiltration of extremist leaders into the power structures of Tripoli. Her latest revelations link high-ranking officials in the outgoing Government of National Unity (GNU) to international terrorism.
“When Terrorists Become Diplomats”
In a detailed report titled “When Terrorists Become Diplomats,” Adams launched a scathing critique of Washington’s policies, which she claims allowed individuals involved in the 2012 Benghazi consulate attacks to rise to the pinnacle of Libya’s political hierarchy. Adams asserted that Al-Qaeda-linked terrorists did not vanish after the attacks; instead, they were “promoted” to sensitive official positions within the Tripoli-based government led by Abdulhamid Dbeibah.
Walid Ellafi Under Fire
In her most damning accusation, Adams explicitly named Walid Ellafi, the Minister of State for Communication and Political Affairs in the Dbeibah government. She accused Ellafi of direct involvement in the deaths of Americans during the Benghazi events. Adams highlighted that while Ellafi presents himself to the international community as a “journalist” and “political official,” he was, in fact, a loyalist to the Ansar al-Sharia terrorist organization, the group responsible for the September 2012 attacks.
State-Backed Passports for Terror Operations
The former CIA officer explained how these elements have exploited official status to gain “international legitimacy.” She noted that two senior plotters of the Benghazi attacks later became Libyan Ambassadors, granting them access to authentic diplomatic documents and passports under aliases. This state-backed cover allows terrorists to move across borders undetected.
Adams cited the case of Faraj Saad al-Hamasi, a member of Ansar al-Sharia, who used forged documents to travel and execute a terrorist attack in Germany in May 2025. She warned that such diplomatic immunity makes it nearly impossible for intelligence agencies to track these “ghosts.”
Warning: Libyan Sleeper Cells on U.S. Soil
The warning extended beyond Libyan borders. Adams confirmed ongoing efforts to track “Libyan sleeper cells” currently on U.S. soil, allegedly planning attacks against American targets. Her report hinted at the necessity of moving against political arms linked to the Muslim Brotherhood in the United States, who she suggests provide support for these radical networks.
A Strategic Failure
Adams concluded her report with a sharp rebuke of U.S. administrations that backed Al-Qaeda-aligned factions in Libya under the guise of “pragmatism” or “stability.” She argued that this empowerment has created catastrophic security blind spots, calling for a decisive and direct confrontation with the enemy after years of impunity.