Hundreds of mourners gathered in western Libya on Sunday to pay their respects to a senior military commander and seven others who died in a plane crash in Turkey earlier this week.
State Funeral for Fallen Commander
The coffins of General Muhammad Ali Ahmad al-Haddad, the military chief for western Libya, and two other officers were carried into a stadium in the coastal city of Misrata for a public funeral ceremony. The city was the hometown of the deceased. The sombre event was attended by Prime Minister Abdul-Hamid Dbeibah alongside a host of other political and military leaders.
Following the official proceedings, the bodies were released to their families for private burial services. This follows memorial ceremonies held on Saturday in both the Libyan capital, Tripoli, and in Ankara, Turkey.
Details of the Fatal Crash
The fatal incident occurred on Tuesday when a private jet carrying eight people crashed shortly after taking off from Ankara, Turkey's capital. On board were General al-Haddad, four other Libyan military officers, and three crew members. Libyan authorities have stated a preliminary belief that a technical malfunction caused the tragedy, but a full investigation remains ongoing in coordination with Turkish officials.
A Nation Divided in Grief
The crash has cast a spotlight on Libya's deep and ongoing political fractures. The country has been in a state of chaos since the 2011 uprising that toppled and killed long-time dictator Moammar Gadhafi. It subsequently split, with rival administrations in the east and west, each supported by different armed groups and foreign governments.
Currently, the UN-recognised Government of National Unity, led by Prime Minister Dbeibah, operates from Tripoli in the west. A rival administration under Prime Minister Ossama Hammad is based in the east. Turkey has been the principal international backer of the western government, though it has recently made diplomatic overtures to improve relations with the eastern-based authorities.
The death of a key military figure like General al-Haddad underscores the fragile and complex landscape of Libyan politics, where alliances are crucial and instability remains a constant threat.
