Name: Libya lays army chief of staff to rest in Misrata
Uploaded: 2025-12-29T01:38:33.072Z
Duration: 2 min 13 s
Description: Thousands turn out in Libya to farewell a prominent army general killed in a plane crash in Turkiye.

Thousands turn out in Libya to farewell a prominent army general killed in a plane crash in Turkiye.

Misrata

Thousands of Libyans gathered at Misrata football stadium to pay their respects to army chief Mohammed al-Haddad, who died in a plane crash in central Turkey along with four other military officials. City officials declared an official holiday, and a military ceremony was held in Tripoli upon the return of the remains, with Haddad posthumously promoted to field marshal.

Preliminary investigations by Turkish authorities suggest technical failure as the cause of the crash, with inquiries ongoing in cooperation with Libya. Haddad's death is seen as a significant setback to efforts to unify Libya's divided military, as he was respected for his leadership and peace-building efforts. The government has temporarily appointed his deputy as acting chief of staff.

Libya lays army chief of staff to rest in Misrata

People came from all across Libya to pay their respects, with thousands in the Misrata football stadium saying a farewell prayer. City officials announced an official holiday to allow people to attend the funeral. Abdullah al-Lafi drove hundreds of kilometers to get here. It's a huge loss. Indeed, Mohammed al-Haddad's death is a loss for all of us and for Libya. He was a true patriot. May Allah rest his soul. Our presence here is a symbol of unity. Enough divisions. It's time to come together and build a nation. Turkish authorities say preliminary investigations into the plane crash in central Turkey that killed Haddad and four other military officials suggest technical failure. When the remains arrived in Libya, a military ceremony in their honor was held in Tripoli. Haddad was posthumously promoted to the rank of field marshal. The investigations into this tragic incident are ongoing with full responsibility and credibility and are being closely monitored in cooperation with Turkey until the truth of the events is revealed. The government has temporarily appointed Haddad's deputy as acting chief of staff. As we bid them farewell today to their Lord, we renew the pledge to them and to you, before God and before the nation, to follow in their footsteps in striving to unify the military institution and to build a nation army for all of Libya. Libya has been divided between rival administrations since 2014. The United Nations-backed Government of National Unity is based in Tripoli in the West and led by Prime Minister Abdelhamid Dubeyba. A rival administration in the East is supported by the powerful warlord Khalifa Haftar. Haddad's death is considered a huge blow to efforts towards unifying Libya's fractured military. Haddad was a career military man, seen as a charismatic and strong leader and respected by Libyans for his work to bringing peace to this divided country. Replacing him will not be an easy task. Malek Treina, Al Jazeera, Misrata.

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