A private jet carrying Libya’s Chief of General Staff, Mohammed al-Haddad, crashed in Turkish airspace after reporting an electrical malfunction, Turkish officials confirmed. The aircraft had requested emergency landing clearance before losing contact and going down. All eight people on board, including al-Haddad, four Libyan military officials, and three crew members, were killed.

Turkish Presidency Communications Director Fahrettin Altun stated that pilots had notified air traffic control of the issue moments before the crash. Libya’s Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah confirmed al-Haddad’s death, calling it a tragic loss for the nation and its armed forces. Among the victims were senior military figures such as General al-Fitouri Gharibiel and Brigadier General Mahmoud al-Katawi.

The Libyan delegation had been traveling to Ankara for high-level defense talks aimed at strengthening bilateral military cooperation. Turkish authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the accident, with preliminary findings pointing to a possible electrical systems failure.

At least four Bangladeshi migrants have died after two boats carrying migrants sank off the coast of Libya near Al-Khums, about 118 kilometers east of Tripoli. The Libyan Red Crescent confirmed the incident on Saturday, reporting that the first boat carried 26 Bangladeshis, of whom four bodies were recovered. The second boat had 69 migrants, including Egyptians, Sudanese, and eight children, though their fate remains uncertain. The Libyan Coast Guard and Al-Khums port security participated in the rescue operation, and the recovered bodies were handed over to authorities under the supervision of the public prosecutor. The tragedy follows a series of deadly migrant boat accidents in Libyan waters in recent months, highlighting the ongoing humanitarian crisis faced by migrants attempting to cross the Mediterranean to reach Europe.

The UN’s International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported that more than 1,000 migrants have died in 2025 while attempting to cross the Central Mediterranean, marking a grim milestone in one of the world’s deadliest migration routes. The latest tragedy occurred off Libya’s coast, where an inflatable boat carrying 49 people capsized near the Al Buri Oil Field after departing from Zuwara. Only seven men survived, while 42 others, mostly from Sudan, Somalia, Cameroon, and Nigeria, are presumed dead. The IOM provided emergency aid to survivors and reiterated its call for stronger regional cooperation, safer migration pathways, and improved search and rescue operations to prevent further loss of life. The agency warned that the death toll continues to rise with each new incident.

Authorities in Libya have rescued more than 100 migrants held hostage by human traffickers in the city of Ajdabiya. According to a statement from the Libyan Attorney General's office, the traffickers—who included nationals from Libya, Sudan, and Egypt—were holding the group, including five women, for ransom and subjecting them to physical abuse.

While the identities and nationalities of the rescued migrants have not yet been disclosed, officials confirmed that five traffickers have been arrested. Libya remains a major transit point for migrants attempting to reach Europe, despite the serious risks involved. As of December 2024, the United Nations reported that more than 825,000 migrants were residing in Libya.

The African Union has called for a permanent ceasefire in Libya following deadly clashes in Tripoli and protests demanding Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh’s resignation. At least eight people were killed in recent fighting between government forces and a rival militia group. The Libyan defense ministry stated it is working toward a peace agreement. Tensions escalated after the Prime Minister ordered the disbandment of several armed groups but excluded the powerful 444 Brigade, sparking unrest and violence.

A boat carrying 65 migrants has sunk off the coast of Libya, according to Pakistan's Foreign Ministry. While some Pakistani nationals have been identified among the victims, the identities of others remain unknown. The boat capsized near the port of Marsa Dela in Libya's Zawiya city. The Pakistani embassy has sent a team to identify the deceased. Earlier in January, another migrant boat carrying 86 passengers sank en route to Spain, with 66 Pakistanis among them. Such tragedies often occur as migrants risk their lives in search of a better future.