The "theatre of dreams" for a unified Libyan military was shattered tonight. General Mohammed Ali Ahmed al-Haddad, the Chief of General Staff for Libya’s UN-recognized Government of National Unity (GNU), was killed when his jet went down south of Ankara. This isn't just a technical failure; it's a massive "glitch" in the fragile peace process that was holding the country together.
1. The Crash: A Flash in the Night ✈️
At 8:10 p.m. local time, al-Haddad’s Falcon 50 business jet (registration 9H-DFJ) took off from Ankara’s Esenboğa Airport, bound for Tripoli. The flight was supposed to be a routine return from high-level defense talks.
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The Distress Signal: Just 42 minutes into the flight, at 8:52 p.m., the crew issued an emergency landing notification near the Haymana district.
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The Impact: Security camera footage from the rural district showed the night sky suddenly lit up by a massive "flash"—an explosion mid-air or upon impact.
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The Aftermath: Turkish Gendarmerie located the wreckage approximately 2km south of Kesikkavak village. All five people on board, including senior military aides, were confirmed dead by Libyan Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah.
2. The Background: The "First Ambassador" of Peace
General al-Haddad was more than just a military chief; he was the key figure trying to "re-sync" Libya’s fractured forces.
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The Architect of Unity: As the top commander in Western Libya, al-Haddad led the UN-brokered efforts to unify the military, which has been split since the 2011 revolution.
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The Mission: He was in Ankara to meet Turkish Defense Minister Yaşar Güler and Chief of Staff Selçuk Bayraktaroğlu. The goal was to solidify a strategic partnership and move toward a unified command structure that could finally push out foreign mercenaries.
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The Loss: Dbeibah described the crash as a "tragic accident" and a "great loss." Al-Haddad was one of the few figures respected by both the militias in the West and some factions in the East.
3. Rumours & The "Unfiltered" Theories 🕵️♂️
In Libya, "accidents" are rarely accepted at face value. While officials cite a technical malfunction, the rumour mill is working overtime:
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The Sabotage Theory: Some speculate that hardliners—on either side—who fear military unification might have tampered with the jet. A unified army would mean an end to the "private empires" held by local warlords.
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The "Flash" Mystery: The mid-air flash caught on camera has some analysts questioning if an on-board explosion occurred before the plane hit the ground.
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Timing: The crash happened just as al-Haddad was making significant progress in securing Turkish military support to stabilize the Tripoli-based government against Eastern rivals.
4. The Geopolitical Vibe: Libya in 2025 🌍
For a Gen Z reader, think of Libya as a real-life Game of Thrones stalemate.
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The Divide: The country is split between the GNU in Tripoli (backed by Turkey and the UN) and the LNA in Benghazi (led by Khalifa Haftar and backed by Russia).
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The Stakes: Libya sits on 95% of its exports in oil, with GDP growth projected at 12.3% for 2025. However, this wealth is locked behind a wall of 23% unemployment and political fragmentation.
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The Proxy War: Turkey just extended its military deployment for another two years to protect the GNU. Meanwhile, Russia’s "Africa Corps" is deeply embedded in the East. Al-Haddad was the bridge trying to navigate this "hostile activity" from foreign powers.
🔗 Reliable & Reputable Sources
The Guardian - Libya’s army chief dies in plane crash in Turkey: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/dec/23/libyas-army-chief-dies-in-plane-crash-in-turkey
Al Jazeera - Contact lost with jet carrying Libyan army chief over Ankara: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/12/23/signal-lost-with-jet-carrying-libyan-army-chief-over-ankara-turkiye-says
The Media Line - Turkey Confirms Crash of Jet Carrying Libyan Army Chief: https://themedialine.org/headlines/turkey-confirms-crash-of-jet-carrying-libyan-army-chief-all-presumed-dead/
Xinhua - Libya's army chief of staff, 4 other officials killed in plane crash: https://english.news.cn/20251224/956874592ee14aeca72127380c1aeac9/c.html
The Hindu - Libya's PM confirms death of military chief in Turkey: https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/libyas-prime-minister-confirms-the-death-of-countrys-military-chief-in-plane-crash-in-turkey/article70431419.ece
The Final Word
The death of General al-Haddad creates a dangerous power vacuum. Without his leadership, the unification process could go "offline," potentially leading to another round of civil unrest.
Will al-Haddad's death be the spark that restarts the war, or will it force both sides to finally compromise in his memory?
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