Libyan Army Chief Killed in Plane Crash After Ankara Visit

Libya’s Chief of General Staff, Lieutenant General Mohammed Ali Ahmed al-Haddad, has been killed in a tragic plane crash in Turkey after departing from the capital, Ankara, officials confirmed. Libyan Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah announced the death on Tuesday evening, describing it as a profound loss for Libya’s military and the nation. He confirmed that four senior military officials were also on board the aircraft, including the commander of Libya’s ground forces, the head of the military manufacturing authority, an adviser to the chief of staff, and a photographer. Turkish authorities said the Dassault Falcon 50 private jet took off from Ankara’s Esenboğa Airport bound for Tripoli but lost radio contact shortly after departure. The aircraft later crashed near Kesikkavak village in Ankara’s Haymana district. Turkey’s Interior Minister said the jet had requested an emergency landing, while the head of Turkey’s communications directorate confirmed the distress call was due to an electrical failure. General Haddad had been on an official visit to Turkey, where he met senior defence officials. The crash comes just a day after Turkey extended the mandate for its military deployment in Libya, underscoring the sensitive regional and political context surrounding the incident. Investigations into the cause of the crash are ongoing.