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CIA requests for help in Benghazi attack denied?

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    Jennifer Griffin reports from Washington, D.C.

  • Duration 5:37
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-- Fox News alert breaking news now on the deadly terror attack on the US consulate in Libya.

Fox News sources telling us CIA officers on the ground -- -- during the attack sent requests for help but were denied.

National security correspondent Jennifer Griffin is live at the Pentagon with more on this Jennifer.

Hi John well.

Sources who are on the ground in being Ghazi.

During the attack tell Fox News.

That in fact there were three separate requests to aid not only the attack that was occurring at the consulate -- to try and help with that attack.

But also request for outside help outside military to help to help.

Once there -- gun fires and -- and a firefight at the CIA annex those requests we're told.

Came from higher headquarters they were told to stand down.

There what as you know Glen -- entire round woods the former Navy SEALs were over at the CIA annex at.

About 9:40 PM when the first shots were heard at the consulate.

Where the ambassador and his team we're taking fire.

I'm told that they radioed to their higher headquarters that they wanted permission to go and help the ambassador to help the ambassadors teams.

At that time they were told by their higher ups to quote stand down.

They waited approximately an hour.

They requested again to send Clinton door -- Tyrone woods and other members of that team to help out at the consulate.

They were again for a second time told to stand down they ignored those orders they made their way over to the consulate against the orders.

They helped rescue those who had survived at the consulate they could not find the ambassador.

They made their way back to the CIA -- about one mile away.

At midnight that -- is approximately.

The firing had started at 9:40 PM said that.

Is approximately two and a two hours and twenty minutes later they get back to the CIA annex they begin taking fire almost immediately.

Four mortars are fired at the compound.

During that time there was no problem with communications I'm told from sources on the ground they were in constant radio contact with higher headquarters they were calling for.

Military support air support.

I've also learned first from separate sources that -- -- worth -- least one.

Special operations unit most likely delta force that was waiting on standby at -- -- air -- about 480 miles.

From.

From being Ghazi they could have been acting Ghazi in approximately two hours they were part of the commanders and extremists force a -- They're called in a special operations community.

They did not take offense again -- Typically on the ground -- special operations forces are involved in a firefight like this they can call in air support from.

What are known as Specter gunships these are commonly used by the special operations communities.

And sources ending Ghazi who were involved in the attacks say that no.

Gun ships were sent no help with -- even though the fighting at the CIA -- went on for more than four hours.

We're also told.

That those -- they CIA annexed to look into custody three Libyan attackers and were forced to hand them over to the Libyan.

February 17 forces that came to help at the annex.

At approximately 4 in the morning.

They handed those three Libyans over it's not clear from US officials what happened to those Libyans and whether those -- in attackers were in fact.

Released in the -- by the Libyans.

But this is somewhat explosive information that three requests were denied from higher headquarters to not only help the ambassador and his team at the consulate.

But also to send an outside military help.

That could have helped in this.

Ongoing firefight that went on for six hours and twenty minutes a final point John we have confirmed that there were two.

Surveillance drones sent over Ben Ghazi one of them was sent into position -- was already in position over Libya at the time.

Over eastern Libya it was position shortly after the firing began it had to -- be replaced by a second.

Drone.

Later in the evening so there -- -- always one -- up above.

Sending real time video back to computers back to computers they could be accessed.

At any of the agencies here in Washington anyone with a clearance and at CIA pentagon.

The White House situation room or at the State Department could be tapping into that real time video from the drum up above -- Ghazi.

On that night of September 11 and twelfth John.

Jennifer Griffin at the Pentagon with some explosive information there and and so Doherty and woods who gave their lives in this attack.

Tried to rescue the others in fact did rescue the others against orders you're saying and this thing could have been a lot worse had they not done so it's just an incredible and so many questions left to answer thank you can.

And John John one final point.

Glen -- and -- Ron woods were killed at 4 AM by a mortar shell that is six hours and twenty minutes after the fighting at the consulate began.

There my source also tells me that.

One of the team was on the roof.

With a laser pointer with eyes on the mortar attack team the Libyan more ownership -- the people who are shelling.

That laser could have helped guide in any Specter gunship or any other.

Form of military help if that had been sent from -- -- -- an armed drone even Jennifer Griffin under it will be a speculator thank you so much.

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