A Pillar of Unity Falls: Turkiye Honors Libya's Fallen Military Chief Mohammed al-Haddad

The man who spent years trying to stitch together Libya's fractured military is returning home in a flag-draped casket. Turkiye held a solemn military ceremony on December 27, 2025, to honor General Mohammed Ali Ahmed al-Haddad, Libya's army chief of staff, who died in a tragic plane crash earlier this week. The ceremony at Murted airbase outside Ankara marked the final farewell to five high-ranking officials who were in the country for critical defense talks.

A Bridge Between Divided Worlds

Al-Haddad wasn't just a military officer; he was a linchpin in United Nations-backed efforts to unify a country split between east and west. His death resonated even with his rivals. Khalifa Haftar, the powerful commander of eastern forces who opposed al-Haddad during the 2019 conflict, expressed "deep sorrow" over the loss. Analysts suggest that finding a replacement with similar charisma and cross-faction respect will be an "extremely difficult" task for the western government.

Turkiye’s Strategic Mourning and Libya's Future

The crash, attributed to a technical malfunction shortly after takeoff on Tuesday, has left a significant power vacuum. Turkiye, which has been the primary backer of the Tripoli-based administration, used the ceremony to reaffirm its commitment to Libyan stability. Defense Minister Yasar Guler and other top brass attended the send-off as the remains were repatriated. Since the 2011 uprising that toppled Muammar Gaddafi, Libya has struggled for a unified identity, a goal that al-Haddad championed until his final hours.