Türkiye loses contact with the plane of Libyan Chief of Staff Mohammed al-Haddad
Turkish authorities announced in a breaking news report on Tuesday that contact had been lost with a private plane carrying Lieutenant General Mohammed al-Haddad, Chief of Staff of the forces loyal to the Libyan Government of National Accord headed by Abdul Hamid Dbeibah. According to initial reports, the plane disappeared from radar screens shortly after taking off from the Turkish capital, Ankara, prompting a large-scale search and rescue operation by Turkish security services and rescue teams to locate the aircraft and determine the fate of those on board.
Who is Lieutenant General Mohamed El Haddad?
Lieutenant General Mohammed al-Haddad is one of the most prominent military figures in western Libya. He serves as Chief of Staff of the Libyan Army affiliated with the internationally recognized Government of National Accord in Tripoli. Al-Haddad played a pivotal role in reorganizing military units in the western region and was instrumental in military talks aimed at unifying the Libyan military establishment. He held several historic meetings with his counterpart in eastern Libya, Lieutenant General Abdul Razzaq al-Nadhuri, within the framework of the "5+5" Joint Military Commission.
The depth of Turkish-Libyan military relations
Haddad's visit to Ankara comes within the context of close military cooperation between Turkey and the Government of National Accord. These relations are based on the security and maritime memoranda of understanding signed in November 2019 between the Turkish government and the former Government of National Accord. Turkey is the main military backer of the forces based in western Libya, overseeing training and development programs for the Libyan army, in addition to the presence of Turkish military advisors at several Libyan bases. Therefore, visits by Libyan military officials to Ankara are routine and crucial for coordinating security positions.
The repercussions of the incident and its impact on the Libyan scene
This incident is causing widespread concern both locally and regionally, given the sensitivity of Haddad's position and the delicate political situation in Libya. The absence of a figure of the Chief of Staff's stature at this time could cast a shadow over the recently faltering efforts to unify the military. Furthermore, the incident may open the door to various speculations and scenarios regarding its causes, whether technical or otherwise, which could further destabilize the fragile state of affairs in the country.
International and local anticipation
Political and military circles in Libya, as well as the UN mission and countries involved in the Libyan conflict, are closely monitoring developments in this incident. Official bodies in Tripoli and Ankara are awaiting the results of the ongoing search operations to clarify the circumstances of the disappearance, amid hopes that the plane and its passengers will be found safe and sound, and concerns about the potential impact of any negative news on the military and political balance in the region.
