Eastern Libya military intelligence chief killed in Benghazi car blast

The head of military intelligence for the Libyan National Army in eastern Libya was killed on Monday when an explosive device detonated in his car outside his home in Benghazi, security sources told Reuters.

Brigadier Fowzi Mansouri died in the evening blast in the Hawari area of the city, according to two security sources who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The sources did not identify those responsible for the attack. They also provided no further information about the explosive device or the circumstances surrounding the detonation.

Mansouri’s killing underlines the continuing security challenges facing Libya, where rival administrations and armed groups retain influence despite a 2020 ceasefire that brought an end to major warfare.

The country has remained divided between competing political and military forces since 2014. That split followed the 2011 NATO-backed uprising which overthrew long-time leader Muammar Gaddafi.

The Libyan National Army, commanded by military leader Khalifa Haftar, controls large parts of eastern and southern Libya. It is aligned with authorities based in Benghazi.

In western Libya, the internationally recognised Government of National Unity is based in the capital, Tripoli, and controls much of the country’s west.

The two security sources did not provide details of any possible motive for the attack on Mansouri. No group was identified as having claimed responsibility.

The blast took place outside the military intelligence chief’s home, with his death confirmed by the sources later on Monday. Their accounts were provided to Reuters anonymously, and no additional details about the incident were made public.

Libya’s political division has continued despite the ceasefire agreement reached in 2020. While the agreement stopped the main phase of fighting, competing authorities and armed groups have continued to hold power in different parts of the country.

Eastern Libya’s administration is based in Benghazi and is supported by the Libyan National Army. The Government of National Unity, headquartered in Tripoli, remains the internationally recognised authority and governs much of the west.

The killing of a senior security official in Benghazi adds to the uncertainty surrounding the country’s divided security landscape. However, the sources did not state whether the attack was linked to any wider dispute between Libya’s rival factions.

Details of the device used in the explosion, including whether it was placed inside the vehicle or detonated remotely, were not given. The sources also did not say whether anyone else was injured or killed in the incident.