23.12.2025 22:45
The private jet carrying Libyan Chief of General Staff General Muhammad Ali Al-Haddad crashed shortly after taking off from Ankara Esenboğa Airport to Tripoli. Haddad had been the head of the Libyan army since September 2020. He had visited Minister of National Defense Yaşar Güler shortly before the incident.
The private jet carrying Libya's Chief of General Staff, General Muhammad Ali Al-Haddad, took off from Ankara Esenboğa Airport and crashed shortly after departing for Tripoli. Haddad had been at the helm of the Libyan army since September 2020.
The aircraft reportedly crashed at a point in Ankara's Haymana district, and Libya's Chief of General Staff Muhammad Ali Al Haddad was on board. Haddad had visited Minister of National Defense Yaşar Güler shortly before the incident. Al-Haddad, who has been the Chief of General Staff of Libya since September 2020, began his duty in a ceremony organized by the head of the Libyan National Accord Government, Fayez al-Sarraj.
Haddad was considered one of the leading military leaders who spearheaded efforts to unify Libya's military structure and strengthen its regional and international relations.
Regarded as one of the most prominent military figures in the post-war period in Tripoli, Haddad played a key role in efforts to unify Libya's military institutions through the "5+5" Joint Military Committee.
RELATIONS WITH TURKEY
Al-Haddad established extensive military ties, particularly with Turkey. In August 2021, he visited a Turkish frigate off the coast of Libya as part of Turkish naval operations; this visit sparked significant discussions in Libya due to the protocol of his meeting with then-Defense Minister Hulusi Akar in Tripoli.
Additionally, emphasizing the importance of security cooperation in the Mediterranean region, he signed a military agreement with Italy in March 2023 for the training of Libyan special forces. On the American front, in July 2024, Al-Haddad met with AFRICOM leaders to discuss supporting the unification of the Libyan army and strengthening border security.
Haddad participated in a series of meetings under regional and international auspices, particularly the Cairo and Rome talks, with Chief of Staff Forces Chief General Abdul Razzaq Al-Nadhuri. These meetings emphasized the unity of Libyan territories and established a joint force to protect borders with American and European support.
THE GOAL OF A REGULAR LIBYAN ARMY
After being promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General, Al-Haddad was appointed as Chief of General Staff by a decision of the Libyan Presidential Council. Since taking office, he has pledged to work towards establishing "a unified, regular Libyan army" that can protect national sovereignty.