Libyan National Army military intelligence chief killed in Benghazi car bombing

The military intelligence chief of the Libyan National Army (LNA) was killed on Tuesday following a car bomb explosion in Benghazi. The LNA, which maintains control over eastern Libya and various southern regions, confirmed the death of Fawzi al-Mansouri in what appears to be a targeted assassination in the coastal city.

This incident occurs at a sensitive time for Libya, which remains politically and militarily divided between rival administrations. Benghazi serves as the primary stronghold for the LNA and its commander, Khalifa Haftar. The breach of security in such a heavily guarded urban center raises significant questions about the internal stability of the LNA's administrative heartland.

Libya has struggled with fragmentation since the 2011 uprising, leading to the emergence of competing power centers in the east and west. While the LNA oversees the eastern territories from Benghazi, a separate internationally recognized administration is based in the capital, Tripoli. The assassination of a high-ranking intelligence official represents a notable setback for the LNA's security apparatus during a period of ongoing national reunification efforts.

According to France24 Africa, the death of al-Mansouri comes as stakeholders continue to navigate the complex process of merging the country's parallel institutions. No group has immediately claimed responsibility for the bombing, and the LNA has not yet provided further details regarding potential suspects or the specific circumstances surrounding the detonation.

The loss of a senior intelligence figure is expected to resonate through the LNA’s command structure. As the military leadership assesses the security failure in Benghazi, the event highlights the persistent volatility that characterizes the Libyan political landscape despite international pressure for a permanent resolution to the country's decade-long crisis.

Based on reporting by France24 Africa.