Senior Libyan National Army military intelligence chief Fawzi al-Mansouri was killed Monday night when an explosive device attached to his vehicle detonated as he left a mosque in Benghazi. The assassination has heightened security concerns across eastern Libya, where the LNA maintains control.
The funeral Tuesday drew the LNA’s most senior leadership to Benghazi, including Khaled and Saddam Haftar, sons of commander Khalifa Haftar. The force described al-Mansouri as a “heroic martyr” but authorities have not identified those responsible for the attack.
Al-Mansouri was a pivotal figure in LNA operations for nearly a decade. He played a central role in campaigns against jihadist groups, including Islamic State militants, in eastern Libya between 2014 and 2017. He later participated in the 2019 offensive on Tripoli, a Russia-backed operation ultimately repelled by forces aligned with the internationally recognised government in the capital, supported by Turkey.
The killing represents a significant breach of the security apparatus the LNA has sought to project in its territory. Hamish Kinnear, an analyst with Verisk Maplecroft, said the operation’s sophistication — particularly the intelligence required to target such a high-profile figure — signals serious capabilities on the part of the perpetrators and deals a blow to the LNA’s security credentials.
Libya has remained fractured since the 2011 uprising that toppled Muammar Gaddafi. Two rival administrations continue to vie for legitimacy: the UN-recognised Government of National Unity in Tripoli, led by Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah, and a parallel administration in the east backed by Haftar and the LNA. Repeated international efforts to reunify the country and hold nationwide Elections have stalled.
Al-Mansouri’s death comes as Washington-backed diplomatic initiatives push to merge the rival executive authorities. While the LNA has publicly endorsed the unity plan, analysts warn the assassination could undermine those efforts. Kinnear cautioned that neither side appears willing to accept its current position indefinitely, raising the risk of a new destabilising power struggle.
In response to the bombing, the LNA pledged to continue its fight against terrorism and work toward the stability, security and reunification of Libya’s institutions. Yet the killing of one of its most senior intelligence officers in the heart of its stronghold underscores the persistent vulnerabilities facing eastern authorities as the country’s political divide endures.
