TRIPOLI: The head of military intelligence for the Libyan National Army (LNA), which controls the east and parts of southern Libya, was killed in a car bombing on Monday.

Fawzi al-Mansouri was assassinated when an explosive stuck to his car detonated as he was leaving a local mosque at night, a statement said. Reports said the killing occurred in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi.

Libya has remained divided since being plunged into war during the ousting in 2011 of former leader Muammar Qadhafi. Two governments are currently vying for power: the UN-recognised administration in Tripoli led by Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah, and a rival in Benghazi backed by military commander and LNA chief Khalifa Haftar.

In a statement, the LNA said it would “not cease fighting terrorism and will continue our struggle for the stability and security of Libya, as well as for the unification of its institutions”.

Refinery on fire in Libya after drone attacks

Al-Mansouri’s killing came as efforts were underway to unify the country’s executive powers under a Washington-mediated plan that the LNA has publicly backed.

“None of this bodes well for a US plan to re-unify Libya,” said Kinnear, an analyst with UK-based Verisk Maplecroft. He added that under the roadmap, neither side “is likely to be satisfied with their respective positions for long”. “A new, destabilising power struggle could soon emerge.”

Refinery attack

Libyan firefighters continued to battle a blaze at the Zawiya refinery complex on Tuesday, according to two engineers at the site, with state oil firm NOC saying it could declare force majeure if drone attacks on oil assets in the city continued.

The fire has not caused any damage to Libya’s largest operating refinery.

Published in Dawn, August 12th, 2026