Saif al-Islam Gaddafi reported killed in western Libya

2026-02-03 - 22:15

Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, the most prominent surviving son of former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, has been reported killed in an attack in western Libya. According to statements from his lawyer, Khaled al-Zaidi, and an adviser, Abdullah Osman, the incident occurred on Tuesday evening in the city of Zintan. Initial reports from Libyan media suggest the attack took place at Gaddafi's residence, carried out by four unidentified individuals who reportedly disabled surveillance cameras beforehand, pointing to a planned operation. A contested legacy and a nation in fragments Saif al-Islam Gaddafi was once considered the likely successor to his father, who was overthrown and killed during the NATO-backed uprising in 2011. Captured by a militia from Zintan later that year, he spent much of the subsequent decade in captivity or obscurity. His reported death removes a symbolic figure from Libya's complex political landscape—a man who was both a potential rallying point for former regime loyalists and a convicted war criminal wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC). His killing underscores the enduring lawlessness and factional violence that have plagued Libya since the fall of the Gaddafi regime, leaving the country divided between rival governments in the east and west. Official response: investigation launched and denials issued In the wake of the reports, Libya's Attorney General’s Office has opened an official investigation into the killing, according to local media. Simultaneously, a major armed group, the 444 Combat Brigade, has issued a statement "categorically" denying any involvement in the incident. The swift denial from a powerful military faction highlights the delicate and often dangerous balance of power among Libya's myriad armed groups, where such a high-profile assassination could trigger retaliatory violence or be used as a pretext for broader conflict. As of now, there has been no formal confirmation of the death from Libya's internationally recognized Government of National Unity based in Tripoli. Regional implications and the shadow of foreign influence The killing of such a significant, albeit controversial, figure will reverberate beyond Libya's borders. It could destabilize the already fragile security situation, particularly in western Libya. For regional powers with deep interests in Libya's outcome, including Türkiye, which supports the Tripoli-based government and maintains a military presence, this event introduces new uncertainty. It remains to be seen whether this act was a localized score-settling or part of a larger power play by domestic or foreign actors seeking to reshape the political terrain ahead of long-stalled national elections. The incident serves as a grim reminder that Libya's path to stability remains elusive and fraught with violence.