Libya's Chief of General Staff, Lieutenant General Mohammed al-Haddad, died in a plane crash near Ankara on Tuesday, December 23, 2025, alongside four crew members. The Falcon 50 jet issued an emergency alert shortly after takeoff before vanishing from radar, Turkish officials confirmed.
🔍 Ankara prosecutors have launched a full investigation into the crash, with recovery teams scouring the mountainous Haymana region. The incident occurred after high-level military talks between Libyan and Turkish officials, adding geopolitical significance to the tragedy.
🌍 Ripples Across Mediterranean Relations
Haddad, a key figure in Libya's stabilization efforts, had been strengthening security cooperation with Türkiye. Tripoli officially confirmed his death late Tuesday, calling it 'a loss for national unity.' Social media across North Africa flooded with 🇱🇾 tributes as young Libyans shared memes honoring Haddad's peacekeeping legacy.
Turkish President Erdogan pledged 'complete transparency' in the investigation during a late-night address, while UN Security Council members observed moments of silence at ongoing climate talks in Nairobi.
