Libya's top military commander, General Mohammed Ali Ahmed al-Haddad, has been killed alongside four others when their private jet crashed shortly after takeoff from Turkey's capital, Ankara. The tragic incident occurred on Tuesday, 23 December 2025, casting a shadow over the complex political and military relationship between Turkey and the divided North African nation.
Details of the Fatal Flight
The Dassault Falcon 50 executive jet departed from Ankara's Esenboğa airport at 17:10 GMT, bound for the Libyan capital of Tripoli. According to Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya, radio contact with the aircraft was lost at 17:52 GMT. Authorities later located the wreckage near Kesikkavak village in Ankara's Haymana district.
Minister Yerlikaya stated that the plane had issued a request for an emergency landing while over Haymana, but no further contact could be established. The cause of the crash is not yet known and remains under investigation.
Libyan Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, who leads the internationally recognised government in Tripoli, confirmed the deaths. He described the loss as "a great loss for the nation, for the military institution, and for all the people."
Prominent Figures Lost
General al-Haddad was not travelling alone. The prime minister confirmed that four other high-ranking Libyan officials and staff were on board the ill-fated flight. The victims included:
- The commander of Libya's ground forces.
- The director of the country's military manufacturing authority.
- An adviser to the chief of staff.
- A photographer from the chief of staff's office.
General al-Haddad had been in Ankara on an official visit, where he held meetings with Turkish Defence Minister Yasar Güler and the chief of the Turkish general staff, Selçuk Bayraktaroğlu.
Broader Political and Military Context
The crash comes at a sensitive time in Turkey-Libya relations. Just one day prior, the Turkish parliament voted to extend the mandate for deploying Turkish soldiers in Libya by another two years. Turkey, a NATO member, has been a key backer of the Tripoli-based government, providing military training and support since 2020.
The two nations have also forged controversial agreements on maritime boundaries and energy exploration in the Mediterranean, moves strongly opposed by neighbours Egypt and Greece. However, Ankara has recently pursued a "One Libya" policy, increasing diplomatic contacts with factions in eastern Libya, signalling a potential strategic shift.
The loss of General al-Haddad and his delegation represents a significant blow to the military leadership of Libya's recognised government and underscores the ongoing volatility in the region's security landscape.
