Libyan National Army intelligence chief killed in Benghazi car bombing
Fawzi al-Mansouri, military intelligence chief of the Libyan National Army controlling eastern Libya, was killed by a car bomb in Benghazi, raising concerns over a US-backed reunification plan.
The head of military intelligence for the Libyan National Army (LNA), which controls eastern and parts of southern Libya, was killed on Monday night when an explosive attached to his car detonated as he left a mosque, the army confirmed. Reports place the attack in the eastern city of Benghazi.
Libya has been split since the 2011 ousting of Muammar Gaddafi, with two rival administrations currently competing for control: the UN-recognised government in Tripoli under Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah, and a Benghazi-based rival backed by commander Khalifa Haftar.
Khaled Haftar, son of Khalifa, said an investigation was underway and that early signs pointed to a terrorist act, describing terrorism as a threat to the whole region. No perpetrators have been identified so far. His office later said a "terrorist cell" preparing sabotage had been arrested in Benghazi, though it was not confirmed whether this was linked to the killing.
Analysts said the precision required to target such a senior figure points to significant capability on the part of those responsible, dealing a blow to the LNA's image of security in the territory it controls. The killing comes as a Washington-mediated plan to reunify Libya's executive institutions, publicly backed by the LNA, is being pursued. Experts warned the attack could delay or disrupt the deal, which relied on the assumption of stability in Benghazi and loyalty to Haftar's son and heir, Saddam, ensuring protection for senior officers.
The Tripoli-based government condemned the bombing as a terrorist attack regardless of political affiliations. A funeral for al-Mansouri was held in Benghazi on Tuesday, attended by senior LNA figures including Khaled and Saddam Haftar, with the army calling him a heroic martyr. Al-Mansouri had close ties to the Haftar family, played a major role fighting the Islamic State group between 2014 and 2017, and was a key figure in Haftar's 2019 Russian-backed offensive on Tripoli.
