Libyan Army Chief of Staff, Senior Officers Killed in Plane Crash in Turkey

Libyan Army Chief of Staff, Senior Officers Killed in Plane Crash in Turkey

Libya’s Prime Minister, Abdulhamid Dbeibah, has confirmed the death of the Chief of General Staff of the Libyan Army, Mohammed al-Haddad, and several senior military officials in a plane crash in Turkey on Tuesday.

In a statement posted on his Facebook page, Dbeibah expressed deep grief over the incident, describing the deaths as a tragic national loss. “It is with deep sadness and great sorrow that we learnt of the death of the Libyan army’s chief of general staff,” the prime minister said.

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According to Turkey’s Interior Minister, Ali Yerlikaya, the wreckage of the aircraft was discovered by the Turkish gendarmerie after it crashed shortly after taking off from Ankara, following an official visit by the Libyan delegation.

Dbeibah disclosed that the aircraft was carrying other high-ranking military officers as well as a photographer, all of whom were killed in the crash.

Haddad, who had served as Libya’s army chief of general staff since August 2020, was appointed during the tenure of former Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj. He was widely regarded as a key figure in Libya’s fragile security architecture.

Describing the victims as patriots, Dbeibah said Libya had lost men who served with “loyalty and dedication”, adding that they exemplified discipline, responsibility and national commitment.

Authorities in both Libya and Turkey are expected to release further details as investigations into the airplane accident continue.

Libyan Army Chief of Staff, Senior Officers Killed in Plane Crash in Turkey