Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held a phone call with Libyan Presidential Council Chairman Mohammad al-Manfi on Wednesday to formally express his condolences over the fatal plane crash near Ankara. Assurance of ongoing supportIn the conversation, President Erdogan emphasized the strength of bilateral ties between the two nations. He described relations as "extremely strong" and assured Libyan authorities that Türkiye would "continue to provide all necessary support." He noted that recovery operations at the crash site were proceeding without interruption despite challenging conditions. Turkish disaster management agency AFAD established a mobile coordination center at the site, with search efforts continuing through heavy rain and fog to support the ongoing investigation.

Benghazi – The Libyan Government Head, Dr. Oussama Hamad, affirmed this. He issued a statement to the Libyan people. The Head of the Libyan Government said the founding fathers gained independence. In his statement, the Libyan Government Head sharply criticized UNSMIL’s performance. He demanded an end to imposing political paths.

The private jet carrying Gen. Muhammad Ali Ahmad al-Haddad, four other military officials and three crew members crashed on Tuesday, after taking off from Turkey's capital, Ankara, killing everyone on board. Libyan officials said that the cause of the crash was a technical malfunction on the plane. Libyan officials arrive to assistA 22-person delegation — including five family members — arrived from Libya early on Wednesday to assist in the investigation, he said. The other military officials who died in the crash were Gen. Al-Fitouri Ghraibil, the head of Libya’s ground forces, Brig. Turkish officials said that the Falcon 50-type business jet took off from Ankara’s Esenboga airport at 8:30 p.m. and that contact was lost around 40 minutes later.

Ankara: A private jet carrying Libya's military chief, four other officers and three crew members crashed on Tuesday after takeoff from Turkey's capital, Ankara, killing everyone on board. Libyan officials said the cause of the crash was a technical malfunction on the plane.

Libya army chief of staff killed in jet crash near Ankara after fault reported, Turkish official saysANKARA/TRIPOLI, (Reuters) – A private jet that crashed overnight, killing Libya’s army chief of staff and seven others on board, had reported an electrical fault and requested an emergency landing shortly before contact was lost, a Turkish official said today. Libyan Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah called it a “great loss for the nation.”Three crew members were also killed, Turkish officials said. Mohammed Al-Menfi, head of the Tripoli-based Presidential Council, said the deputy chief of staff would assume Haddad’s duties until a new chief is appointed. Haddad, from the coastal city of Misrata some 200 km (124 miles) east of Tripoli, was appointed chief of staff in 2020. Yerlikaya earlier said the aircraft had requested an emergency landing while flying over Haymana, adding that its wreckage was found near Kesikkavak village.

X / Sea Watch ItalyBonelli, 116 people left to die in EU hypocrisy"Reports coming in from Alarm Phone speak of 116 people missing in a shipwreck off the coast of Libya. "I share and make my own the words of Alarm Phone: "against the silence and indifference of the authorities, we demand answers. While celebrating Christmas, 116 people die without rescue and in the hypocrisy of Europe'. According to the Sea-Watch NGO 116 people have lost their lives, there is only one survivor. Alarm Phone confirmed the shipwreck.

Search operations continue at the wreckage of the private jet carrying Libyan Chief of General Staff General Mohammed Ali Al-Haddad in Ankara, Dec. 24, 2025. (AA Photo)The Embassy of France said it has "no confirmation" regarding reports that three French nationals were among eight people killed when a business jet carrying Libyan military officials crashed near Ankara on late Tuesday. "We are in contact with the Turkish authorities," French Embassy officials told Türkiye Today in an exclusive statement. The five passengers included Libyan Chief of Staff Gen. Ali Muhammad al-Haddad, Libyan Land Forces Commander General al-Fitouri Gharibil, and members of their delegation. Wreckage of the private jet carrying Libyan Chief of General Staff General Mohammed Ali Al-Haddad in Ankara, Türkiye on December 24, 2025.

The High Council of State (HCS) strongly criticized the law passed by the House of Representatives (HoR) concerning the settlement of public debt, considering it devoid of constitutional and political legitimacy and in clear violation of the Libyan Political Agreement, which mandates partnership between the two chambers on sovereign and financial matters. In a statement, the HCS explained that the law seeks to grant retroactive legitimacy to a massive public debt exceeding 303 billion dinars, accumulated since 2014 in the absence of approved budgets and final accounts. This, it said, amounts to a political settlement of a fait accompli and entrenches a policy of impunity rather than accountability and auditing of how these funds were spent. The HCS further considered the law a blatant interference in the mandates of the Central Bank of Libya, calling on the Central Bank to refrain from implementing the law or arranging any financial consequences arising from it. The statement also urged judicial authorities and oversight bodies to intervene urgently and exercise their mandates to protect public funds through oversight and accountability, uphold the principle of the rule of law, and prevent the Libyan citizen from bearing the cost of unlawful settlements.

The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) expressed its deep sorrow over the tragic plane crash that claimed the lives of Lieutenant General Mohammed Al-Haddad, Chief of the General Staff of the Libyan Army, and his colleagues while returning from an official mission to Ankara. UNSMIL also mourned Major General Al-Fetouri Gharibeel, Chief of Staff of the Land Forces and a member of the Joint Military Commission (5+5), who played a pivotal role in signing the 2020 ceasefire agreement; Brigadier Mahmoud Al-Qattiyoui, Director of the Military Manufacturing Authority; Mohammed Al-Assawi Diab, Advisor to the Chief of the General Staff; Mohammed Omar Mahjoub, photographer at the Media Office of the Chief of the General Staff; as well as the captain and crew of the aircraft. The Mission paid tribute to the dedicated service of Lieutenant General Al-Haddad and his companions, affirming that Al-Haddad was a strong advocate for unifying Libya’s military and civilian institutions, and for peace and stability toward a strong Libya; placing the national interest above all considerations. He was also a professional officer and a patriotic figure devoted to his country. UNSMIL extended its deepest condolences and sincere sympathies to the families of the victims, their colleagues, the Joint Military Commission (5+5), and the Libyan people as a whole, expressing solidarity with all those affected by this great tragedy during this difficult time.

Turkish authorities on Wednesday found the cockpit voice recorder and black box from a private jet that crashed killing the head of Libya's armed forces and his four aides. Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya told reporters at the crash site that the plane's voice recorder and the flight data recorder (black box) had been recovered. Analysis 'may take months'Lieutenant General Mohammed al-Haddad and four other aides were returning to Tripoli after holding talks in Ankara with Turkish military officials. Turkish officials said the Ankara prosecutor's office has launched an investigation into the incident. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan offered condolences over the loss of lives during a phone call with Prime Minister Dbeibah, his office said.

Pengkalan Chepa fire and rescue station operations commander, Shamsudin Ismail said the worker injured in the accident at the Sultan Ismail Petra Airport construction site suffered a broken leg. (Facebook pic)KOTA BHARU : One worker was killed and another injured in an accident at the Sultan Ismail Petra Airport construction site in Pengkalan Chepa here. Pengkalan Chepa fire and rescue station operations commander, Shamsudin Ismail said their team arrived at the scene 18 minutes after receiving the emergency call at 4.49pm. One had a broken right leg, while the other was confirmed dead at the scene. The injured victim was taken to Hospital Raja Perempuan Zainab II for treatment.

The Ministry of Justice announced that it is studying the closure and merger of a number of prisons as part of efforts to strengthen the rule of law and ensure respect for human rights, in line with the legislation governing reform and rehabilitation institutions. The ministry explained that this step comes as part of a comprehensive review of prison conditions and aims to improve operating mechanisms in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. It also emphasized the need to strictly adhere to the law in all procedures, confirming that it is closely monitoring all related measures and is committed to applying approved legal and institutional standards.

Al-Qubba – Speaker of the House of Representatives, Counselor Aguila Saleh Issa, extended his sincere condolences. He offered heartfelt sympathy on the passing of Lieutenant General Mohammed Al-Haddad. The Speaker also extended condolences to the family of the late Lieutenant General Al-Fitouri Ghreibel. Saleh expressed sympathy to their colleagues in the military. Saleh expressed his deepest condolences and sympathy to all the victims’ families.

Ankara, Dec 24 (AP) A private jet carrying Libya's military chief and four other officers and military staff crashed on Tuesday after takeoff from Turkey's capital, Ankara, killing everyone on board. Libyan officials said the cause of the crash was a technical malfunction on the plane. The Libyan delegation was in Ankara for high-level defence talks aimed at boosting military cooperation between the two countries, Turkish officials said. Al-Hadad was the top military commander in western Libya and played a crucial role in the ongoing, UN-brokered efforts to unify Libya's military, which has split, much like Libya's institutions. According to a government statement on Facebook, Libya will send a team to Ankara to work with Turkish authorities on investigating the crash.

The Presidential Council (PC) member Abdullah Al-Lafi has discussed British support for efforts to advance the political process in the country during talks with the UK ambassador, Martin Reynolds. A statement posted on Al-Lafi’s Facebook page said the meeting reviewed bilateral relations, areas of cooperation and London’s role in backing initiatives aimed at easing the political deadlock. Al-Lafi underlined the importance of creating a climate of consensus that could pave the way for inclusive national elections and help reunify state institutions. He also stressed that improving security and stability in Libya would have wider regional benefits, calling for stronger international backing for the UN-led political process to reach a lasting settlement.