Yes, the "attack" on the "consulate" was a well-scripted feint, except they didn't expect Woods to show up and start killing jihadis. The firefight got out of hand, a fire started, and poor Stevens, locked in his jail cell/"secure room" suffocated.
I'm sure this caused some consternation among enemy commanders, since they must have expected the same thing Woods and Doherty expected - air assault followed by rescue forces.
But they were well-drilled and their objective - the "warehouse" - was obviously very important.
I agree with part of that. It does look like a diversion. I don't know that 'Woods' was killing many jihadis at the main compound though. Either personally or as a team. He came with 5-6 Americans and about 17 members of the 17th Feb. Martyrs Brigade. Woods and the Americans went into the compound to round up survivors while the 17 Libyans secured the perimeter.
I have some doubts that the Libyans exchanged much fire with the attackers. Not much has been reported about that being much of a firefight. That's why I buy the 'diversion' theory. The Libyan security went out and did a hand wave and the attackers withdrew knowing that the diversion was working.
The main consulate was already on fire before Woods' team arrived. They found Sean Smith's body in the smoke and due to smoke and fire couldn't find Stevens' body.
The real firefight began back at the annex shortly after Woods and the survivors made it back. At least one of their SUVs took heavy fire on the way back too.
the warehouse was the annex? Thought the warehouse was a building off from the annex about 60 yards.