Saif al-Islam Gaddafi Assassinated in Western Libya

By Tgnews Reporter

Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, the prominent son of late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, has been shot dead in the western city of Zintan, where he had resided for the past decade.

Ahmed Khalifa, Al Jazeera Arabic correspondent in Libya, reported on Tuesday that Gaddafi is believed to have been killed by gunfire at his home in Zintan, a town about 136 kilometers (85 miles) southwest of Tripoli.

The 53-year-old was once viewed as his father’s heir apparent and de facto number two in Libya before the 2011 uprising that led to Muammar Gaddafi’s death. Saif al-Islam played a key role during that period, later facing charges from the International Criminal Court for alleged war crimes.

Captured by a militia in late 2011, he was held in Zintan before his release in 2017 under an amnesty. He had since lived a low-profile life in the area while reportedly considering a political comeback, including a presidential bid in the past.

His political team described the incident as a “cowardly and treacherous assassination,” stating that four masked men stormed his residence and shot him in a direct confrontation. Sources close to the family and his lawyer, Khaled al-Zaidi, confirmed the killing, with reports indicating the attackers disabled surveillance cameras before carrying out the act.

Libya’s Attorney General’s Office has confirmed that forensic examination showed death by gunshot wounds and stated that investigations are underway to identify suspects and pursue legal action.

The circumstances surrounding the assassination remain unclear, with no group immediately claiming responsibility. The killing has sent shockwaves through Libya’s fractured political landscape, where Gaddafi’s name still carries significant symbolic weight amid ongoing instability.

May his soul rest in peace.