I mean tactically. It wasn’t to kill, obviously. Leaving only one other explanation IMO - kidnapping.
You're probably right. When the terrorists entered the building where Stevens and Smith took refuge they discovered the Americans were protected by a steel cage around the safe room. Since they didn't have equipment like a cutting torch or saw to get through this barrier they went outside and set fire to the building. They may have assumed the fire would force Stevens and Smith out of the building. The terrorists had RPGs. If the mission was to kill the ambassador they could have fired at the safe room repeatedly until they blasted a hole into the room and killed these guys. (An RPG HEAT round will penetrate 1.5 meters of concrete and at least six inches of steel.)
You're probably right. When the terrorists entered the building where Stevens and Smith took refuge they discovered the Americans were protected by a steel cage around the safe room. Since they didn't have equipment like a cutting torch or saw to get through this barrier they went outside and set fire to the building. They may have assumed the fire would force Stevens and Smith out of the building. The terrorists had RPGs. If the mission was to kill the ambassador they could have fired at the safe room repeatedly until they blasted a hole into the room and killed these guys. (An RPG HEAT round will penetrate 1.5 meters of concrete and at least six inches of steel.)