A defense official told the Senate Foreign Relations African subcommittee that Al-Qaeda in the Maghreb (AQIM) was involved in the attack on the Benghazi consulate that killed U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens.
"We can say AQIM played a role and the investigations are still underway precisely how AQIM members interacted with others," said Amanda Dory, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for African Affairs.
Dory was responding to a question by Sen. Johnny Isakson (R., Ga.) during the subcommittee's hearing on American intervention in northern Mali.
A closed session regarding the Sept. 11 Benghazi attacks is taking place Wednesday with members of the House of Representatives.