On 10 August, late in the evening, the Libyan National Army’s (LNA) Director of Military Intelligence Major General Fawzi Al-Mansouri was killed by a bomb placed in or attached to his car. The attack happened after he left a mosque in the Sayyida Aisha neighbourhood of al-Hawari in Benghazi in his car following evening prayers. The General was the only victim.
No group has claimed responsibility, and no credible public evidence currently identifies the perpetrators.
The LNA General Command confirmed al-Mansouri was killed as he left the mosque, ‘in a manner known to the terrorists who, in 2014, used this method to assassinate officers, activists, and opinion leaders, by placing explosive devices in their cars.’ It offered condolences and warned that those ‘who committed this heinous act will not escape punishment, and that this will not deter us from eradicating terrorism and continuing the struggle for the stability and security of Libya and the unification of its institutions.’
House of Representatives (HoR) Speaker Aqeela Saleh gave his condolences on the loss of ‘the nation’s hero’ in a ‘treacherous crime’. He demanded that the relevant authorities fully assume their responsibilities, uncover the circumstances of this crime, pursue its perpetrators and all those behind it or who contributed to its planning and execution, and bring them to justice. He also affirmed the HoR’s full support for the LNA General Command in its efforts to combat terrorism and extremism, eradicate its sources, strengthen the nation’s security and stability, and stand united against all who seek to destabilize Libya’s security and undermine its institutions and people. Other HoR groupings issued similar statements, as did Government of National Stability (GNS) PM Osama Hammad.
Presidential Council Deputy Mousa al-Koni issued a forceful denunciation of al‑Mansouri’s assassination and called for full disclosure of the operation’s circumstances, the identification of all those involved, and their prosecution.
The Government of National Unity (GNU) also condemned the ‘terrorist bombing’ and said that ‘that condemning acts of terrorism and violence remains a steadfast national and principled position, irrespective of the stances or alignments resulting from years of conflict and the involvement of various parties therein.’ It called on the Attorney General to launch an urgent investigation.
On 11 August in the afternoon, al-Mansouri´s funeral took place in the presence of LNA Deputy Commander Lieutenant General Saddam Haftar, Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Khaled Haftar, the Service Chiefs of Staff, and many other senior LNA officers. Khalifa Haftar did not attend.
The GNS was represented by Minister of Interior Essam Abu Zuriba and several other ministers.