IED (Improvised Explosive Device) explosion outside home of Fawzi al-Mansouri highlights persistent insecurity despite 2020 ceasefire.
The head of military intelligence for eastern Libya’s Libyan National Army (LNA) has been killed in a targeted attack in Benghazi, security sources and local reports confirmed on Monday evening.
Brigadier General Fawzi al-Mansouri (also referred to as Fowzi Mansouri) died when an improvised explosive device (IED) detonated in or under his vehicle outside his home in the Hawari district of the eastern city. The blast occurred as he was near or entering the car in the residential area close to the Sayyida Aisha Mosque, according to two security sources who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity and a Libyan security official who briefed Anadolu Agency.
Eastern Libya Military Intelligence Chief Killed in Car Bombing:
Eastern Libyan authorities described the incident as a “terrorist attack” and said investigations were under way. No group has claimed responsibility, and officials have not publicly identified suspects or provided further technical details about the device. Video footage circulated on local platforms showing a vehicle on fire in the area.
Al-Mansouri was appointed head of the Military Intelligence Department by LNA commander Khalifa Haftar in May 2024, with the rank of major general or brigadier. He previously commanded the Sabha Military Zone in southern Libya from August 2021 and had earlier held operational roles, including during the 2019 LNA offensive toward Tripoli, where he oversaw sectors on the Ain Zara and Wadi al-Rabi fronts. He was regarded as a senior figure within the LNA’s command structure.
The killing underscores the fragile security environment that persists in Libya more than five years after a ceasefire ended major open warfare. The country has been divided since 2014 between rival administrations and armed groups that emerged after the 2011 NATO-backed uprising that toppled longtime leader Muammar Gaddafi.
Haftar Forces Vow Action After Benghazi Assassination:
The LNA, under Haftar, controls much of eastern and southern Libya and is aligned with the House of Representatives-backed authorities based in Benghazi. The internationally recognised Government of National Unity, headed by Abdul Hamid Dbeibah and based in Tripoli, administers most of the west. Armed groups continue to wield influence across the country, and targeted attacks and localised violence remain periodic features of the landscape.
Eastern authorities condemned the assassination and ordered relevant agencies to pursue those responsible. No immediate statement came from western-based institutions regarding the incident.
The attack marks one of the most significant high-profile killings in Benghazi in recent years and is expected to prompt heightened security measures in the city while investigations continue. Officials have given no indication of any broader escalation at this stage.