Kathmandu— The head of military intelligence for eastern Libya’s self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA), Major-General Fawzi al-Mansouri, was killed late Monday in a targeted car bombing outside his home in the Hawari district of Benghazi. The attack underscores ongoing security concerns within the country, which has been fractured between rival administrations and armed groups since the 2011 uprising that ousted Muammar Gaddafi. Authorities have condemned the killing and pledged to investigate.

The Assassination

Major-General al-Mansouri was killed when an improvised explosive device detonated as he entered his vehicle, according to security sources. The incident occurred late Monday evening in Benghazi’s Hawari district. He had been appointed director of military intelligence in Benghazi with the rank of major-general in 2024.

Government Condemnation

Osama Saad Hammad, prime minister of the Eastern Libyan government, strongly condemned the killing as a “treacherous terrorist act.” He stated on Tuesday that there is “no place in Libya for anyone who raises arms against the state,” and vowed to uncover the circumstances surrounding the crime. Hammad also warned that no one involved in planning, executing, or financing the assassination would be shielded from justice.

Libya’s Divided Landscape

The killing highlights the continuing security challenges facing Libya, which has been divided since 2014 between rival eastern and western factions following the NATO-backed uprising that toppled Muammar Gaddafi. The LNA, led by military commander Khalifa Haftar, controls much of eastern and southern Libya and is aligned with authorities based in Benghazi. Meanwhile, Libya’s internationally recognised Government of National Unity operates from Tripoli and governs much of western Libya. A 2020 ceasefire brought an end to major warfare but has not resolved the underlying political and security issues.

Recent Instability

The assassination comes amid other signs of unrest in Libya, including recent protests in Tripoli sparked by growing anger over power cuts.

Authorities have pledged a full investigation into the killing, though no suspects have been identified at this time.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.