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Africa North

Senior officer assassinated in South Libya

2026-02-26

[LibyaReview] A major in the Libyan National Army (LNA) has been killed in an assassination attack carried out by armed groups described as outlaws in the southern town of Al-Qatrun.

Major Fares Al-Ferjani died after being shot by gunmen near a roundabout in Qatrun, according to local sources. Footage circulated on Libyan social media platforms showed what appeared to be CCTV images of the moment armed assailants attacked his vehicle. In the video, one attacker is seen stepping out of a car and opening fire at close range before the officer reportedly attempted to respond with his weapon.

The Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the LNA, Saddam Haftar,

…who happens to be the son of Khalifa Haftar

...Self-proclaimed Field Marshal, served in the Libyan army under Muammar Qadaffy, and took part in the coup that brought Qadaffy to power in 1969. He became a prisoner of war in Chad in 1987. While held prisoner, he and his fellow officers formed a group hoping to overthrow Qadaffy, so it's kind of hard to describe him as a Qadaffy holdover. He was released around 1990 in a deal with the United States government and spent nearly two decades in the United States, gaining US citizenship. In 1993, while living in the United States, he was convicted in absentia of crimes against the Jamahiriya and sentenced to death. Haftar held a senior position in the anti-Qadaffy forces in the 2011 Libyan Civil War. In 2014 he was commander of the Libyan Army when the General National Congress (GNC) refused to give up power in accordance with its term of office. Haftar launched a campaign against the GNC and its Islamic fundamentalist allies. His campaign allowed elections to take place to replace the GNC, but then developed into a civil war. Guess you can't win them all. Actually, he is, but slowly...

issued a statement mourning Al-Ferjani. The message was published on Facebook by the LNA’s Military Media Division, praising the officer’s service and describing his death as a loss to the armed forces.

Local sources told Alwasat newspaper that Al-Ferjani was transported to hospital with serious gunshot wounds but later succumbed to his injuries. Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident.

Preliminary information suggests that the attackers may be linked to smuggling networks operating in southern Libya. The region has long witnessed intermittent clashes between security forces and armed groups involved in illicit cross-border trade, including fuel, goods and human trafficking.

Security challenges in the south remain a persistent concern for Libyan authorities, given the vast desert terrain and proximity to porous borders with neighbouring countries. The assassination has renewed calls for intensified operations against criminal networks and stronger coordination among security agencies.

Officials have not yet announced arrests in connection with the killing. Investigations are ongoing to identify the perpetrators and determine the full circumstances surrounding the attack.

Posted by:badanov

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