Tragic Loss: Libya's Chief of Staff Killed in Plane Crash

In a devastating turn of events, Libya's Chief of Staff, Mohammed Ali Ahmed al-Haddad, has tragically died in a plane crash shortly after departing from Ankara, Turkey. The confirmed death was announced by Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, the Prime Minister of Libya's internationally recognized government, on Tuesday evening, marking a significant loss for the nation and its military institution. Al-Haddad was not alone on the aircraft; four other individuals, including the commander of Libya's ground forces, the director of its military manufacturing authority, an adviser to the chief of staff, and a photographer from the chief of staff's office, were also on board. This grave loss resonates deeply with the military and the people of Libya, as expressed by Dbeibah, who described the incident as a "great loss." Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya provided additional details about the flight, stating that the plane took off from Ankara's Esenboğa Airport at 1710 GMT and lost radio contact shortly after at 1752 GMT. Rescue operations later revealed the wreckage of the aircraft near Kesikkavak village in Ankara's Haymana district. Reports indicate that the Dassault Falcon 50-type jet had requested an emergency landing before losing contact, which was attributed to an electrical failure. Burhanettin Duran, head of the presidency's communications directorate, confirmed that the emergency message was relayed to air traffic control, alerting them to the aircraft's distress. During his visit to Turkey, Al-Haddad met with several high-ranking officials, including Turkish Defense Minister Yaşar Güler and his counterpart Selçuk Bayraktaroğlu, as well as other military commanders. His trip came just a day after the Turkish parliament voted to extend the mandate for military deployments in Libya for an additional two years. Turkey has played a critical role in Libya, providing military and political support to the Tripoli-based government. This support has included sending military personnel for training and forming strategic partnerships, including a controversial maritime demarcation accord with Libya that has been met with opposition from Egypt and Greece. Recently, Turkey has been reassessing its approach to Libya, signaling a shift towards increased engagement with the eastern factions of the country under its One Libya policy, while still maintaining ties with the western government. The untimely death of Al-Haddad raises questions about the future stability of Libya's military leadership and the ongoing complexities of international relations within the region. As the nation mourns, the impact of this tragedy will undoubtedly be felt across the broader political landscape. Related Sources: • Source 1 • Source 2 • Source 3 • Source 4 • Source 5