Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, son of ex-Libyan leader, killed, say officials

The Guardian - World NewsCenter-LeftEN 3 min read 100% complete by William Christou in Beirut and Oliver HolmesFebruary 4, 2026 at 01:25 PM

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Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, son of the late Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi, was reportedly killed in a village near Zintan, southwest of Tripoli, on Tuesday night. Officials from the Libyan attorney general’s office stated that the 53-year-old died from gunshot wounds. Gaddafi, once seen as a potential reformer, faced an International Criminal Court warrant for crimes against humanity related to the 2011 crackdown on protests. Conflicting reports surround the circumstances of his death, with his office alleging assassination by masked assailants and his sister claiming he died near the Algerian border. Libyan authorities have launched an investigation into the killing, which some analysts fear could destabilize the country further.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Reuters 30% London School of Economics 30% Algeria 30% High State Council 30% Khaled al-Mishri 40% International Criminal Court 50% Libyan attorney general’s office 50% Zintan 60% Tripoli ×370% Muammar Gaddafi ×280% Libya ×790% Saif al-Islam Gaddafi ×5100%

Keywords

saif al-islam gaddafi 100% libya 90% muammar gaddafi 80% killing 70% political violence 60% post-gaddafi era 60% crimes against humanity 50% libyan politics 50% international criminal court 50% assassination 40%