Tripoli, Libya – The Chief of Staff of the Libyan Army, General Mohammed al-Haddad, has died in a plane crash near Ankara, Turkey. The tragic accident occurred as General al-Haddad and his delegation were returning from an official visit to the Turkish capital.
Libyan Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh announced the devastating news, expressing his condolences to the families of the victims. In a statement released earlier today, Dbeibeh confirmed the deaths of several high-ranking officials alongside General al-Haddad. These include the Chief of Staff of the Ground Forces, Brigadier General Al-Fitouri Ghribil, Director of the Military Manufacturing Authority, Brigadier General Mahmoud al-Qataiwi, Advisor to the Chief of Staff, Mohammed al-Assawi, and Mohammed Omar Ahmed Mahjoub, a photographer from the Chief of Staff’s media office.
The Libyan High Council of State has also issued a statement mourning the loss of General al-Haddad and his companions.
In Ankara, Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya stated that Turkish emergency teams have located the wreckage of the aircraft in the Himana region, south of Ankara. An investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the crash.
The aircraft, a Falcon 50, was en route from Ankara to Tripoli. It had reportedly requested an emergency landing in the Ankara area before communication was lost.
General Mohammed al-Haddad had served as Chief of Staff of the Libyan Army since 2020. He was considered a prominent military figure in the post-February 17th revolution era. Hailing from Misrata, east of Tripoli, he played a key role in efforts to unify the Libyan military and participated in meetings of the 5+5 Joint Military Committee.
Al-Haddad rose to prominence during the defense of Tripoli in 2019 and his involvement in containing military conflicts in the capital and western Libya. He was a key figure in the military and political landscape within the Government of National Unity. Upon assuming office, he pledged to build a unified, regular Libyan army capable of protecting national sovereignty and ending the division within the military establishment.
Prior to his appointment as Chief of Staff, he served as Commander of the Central Defense Zone.
