Libyan military intelligence chief assassinated in car bombing

**BENGHAZI, Libya** — Fawzi al-Mansouri, the head of military intelligence for the Libyan National Army (LNA), was assassinated on Monday in a car bombing in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi, according to an LNA statement released Tuesday.

The LNA stated that an explosive device attached to al-Mansouri’s car detonated as he was leaving a local mosque at night.

Libya has remained politically fractured since the 2011 ousting and death of former leader Muammar Gaddafi. The country is currently divided between two rival administrations: a UN-recognized government in Tripoli led by Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah, and a parallel administration in the east backed by military commander and LNA chief Khalifa Haftar. The LNA controls the east and parts of southern Libya.

Khaled Haftar, the son of Khalifa Haftar, said in a statement to AFP that an investigation had been launched. “Indicators point to a despicable terrorist tactic,” he said, adding that “terrorism is a project targeting the entire region, not just Libya.”

Authorities have not yet identified the perpetrators. However, Khaled’s office later reported that authorities arrested a terrorist cell in Benghazi preparing acts of sabotage, though officials did not clarify whether the arrests were linked to the assassination.

The attack represents a significant security breach in an LNA stronghold. Hamish Kinnear, an analyst at the UK-based firm Verisk Maplecroft, told AFP that the sophistication of the bombing and the intelligence required to target such a high-profile figure indicate substantial capabilities by those responsible.

The assassination coincides with ongoing efforts to reunify Libya’s executive powers under a Washington-mediated plan publicly supported by the LNA. Analysts note the attack could complicate these diplomatic initiatives. Kinnear warned that the incident does not bode well for U.S. reunification efforts, suggesting it could trigger a new power struggle.

Libya expert Jalel Harchaoui stated that the killing would “disrupt, or at the very least delay” the U.S.-brokered deal, noting that the agreement relied on the premise of guaranteed security and protection for senior officers in Benghazi.

The Tripoli-based government issued a statement condemning the attack as a “terrorist act” against al-Mansouri, regardless of political alliances.

Al-Mansouri’s funeral was held on Tuesday afternoon in Benghazi. Photographs from the ceremony showed armed men in military fatigues alongside senior LNA officials, including Khaled and Saddam Haftar. The LNA praised al-Mansouri as a “heroic martyr.”

Al-Mansouri was a prominent military leader closely allied with the Haftar family. He played a central role in LNA operations against jihadist groups, including the Islamic State, in eastern Libya between 2014 and 2017, and served as a leading figure during the LNA’s 2019 offensive to seize Tripoli.

Article source: iraqsun.com | Image credit: Asharq Al-Awsat