The Libyan National Army (LNA), which controls eastern and parts of southern Libya, announced on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, that its military intelligence chief, Fawzi al-Mansouri, was killed in a car bombing in Benghazi. The attack occurred on Monday night when an explosive device attached to his car detonated as he was leaving a local mosque.

Reports confirmed the assassination took place in the eastern city of Benghazi, a stronghold of military commander Khalifa Haftar and the LNA. The sophistication of the attack is seen as a significant blow to the LNA's security credentials and indicates substantial capabilities on the part of the perpetrators.

In response, the LNA stated 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." The group described the attack as indicative of a "despicable terrorist tactic," emphasizing that terrorism targets the entire region, not just Libya.

Libya remains divided since the 2011 ousting of former leader Muammar Gaddafi, with two rival governments vying for power: the UN-recognized administration in Tripoli led by Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah, and the LNA-backed rival government in Benghazi.

Libya expert Jalel Harchaoui commented that the killing would "disrupt, or at the very least delay" the US-brokered reunification deal. Analyst Kinnear noted, "None of this bodes well for a US plan to re-unify Libya," adding that under the current roadmap, neither side "is likely to be satisfied with their respective positions for long."

Al-Mansouri was also a key figure during Haftar's Russia-backed 2019 offensive to seize Tripoli, which was ultimately repelled by forces in the capital with Turkish support.

Sources