Major General Fawzi al-Mansouri, head of the military intelligence department for forces led by eastern Libyan commander Khalifa Haftar, was killed on Monday when an explosive device targeted his car in Benghazi, a security official told Anadolu.
The blast occurred in the al-Hawari area of Benghazi, according to the official. Libyan media reported that al-Mansouri was attacked after leaving evening prayers in the Sayyida Aisha neighbourhood.
The circumstances surrounding the bombing were not immediately clear, and no group has claimed responsibility for the attack.
Senior intelligence appointment
Haftar appointed al-Mansouri to lead the military intelligence service in May 2024, underscoring his position within the eastern-based military structure.
Before taking the intelligence post, al-Mansouri served as commander of the Sabha military region from August 2021. His death removes a senior figure from Haftar’s security apparatus at a time when Libya remains deeply divided between rival political and military centres.
The eastern-based forces control much of eastern and southern Libya and are aligned with an administration based in the east. Haftar remains one of the country’s most influential military figures.
Libya’s political divide
Libya has remained divided since the collapse of Muammar Gaddafi’s rule in 2011, with competing authorities and armed groups vying for political and military influence.
The internationally recognised Government of National Unity, based in Tripoli, controls parts of western Libya, while an eastern administration operates with the backing of Haftar’s forces.
Efforts to reunify state institutions and organise national elections have repeatedly stalled amid disputes over electoral rules, political legitimacy and control of the security apparatus.
The latest killing highlights the continuing security risks facing Libya despite international efforts to end the country’s prolonged political crisis.
