Libya: the chief of military intelligence of Haftar’s army killed in an attack

The attack occurred in the al-Hawari neighborhood, where the military official resided. According to security sources, Fawzi Al-Mansouri had just left Sayyida Aisha mosque after the evening prayer when the explosion targeted his vehicle.

Images of the burned car and the general’s remains circulated on social media after the attack. Their authenticity has not been independently verified.

The General Command of the Libyan National Army (LNA), led by Marshal Khalifa Haftar, confirmed the officer’s death. In a statement, it noted that the method of the attack resembled those carried out in Benghazi before 2014 against LNA officers by groups labeled as terrorists.

This statement directs suspicion towards extremist Islamist groups, although it does not provide public evidence regarding the identity of the masterminds. Investigators have also not announced any claims of responsibility or provided updates on potential arrests.

An Attack that Undermines the Narrative of Recovered Stability in Benghazi

Fawzi Al-Mansouri oversaw several sensitive issues related to military intelligence in the eastern part of the country. This role may have attracted him several adversaries in an environment where rivalries between armed forces, militias, and political networks remain strong.

According to Reuters, the use of an explosive device attached to a vehicle corresponds to a modus operandi already observed in settling scores targeting Libyan military officials. The agency emphasizes that this attack underscores the persistence of targeted violence against high-ranking security personnel.

No targeted assassination of a senior LNA officer or a security force official had been reported in Benghazi since 2014, according to media reports. Authorities in eastern Libya regularly highlight improvements in security in the areas controlled by Haftar’s camp.

In recent years, several military leaders or militia officials have nonetheless been killed in Tripoli and the western part of the country. The results of investigations opened after these assassinations have rarely been made public, leaving questions about their authors and potential masterminds unanswered.