The Turkish Minister of Defence, Yaşar Güler, has issued a formal statement on behalf of himself and the Ministry of National Defence, expressing his deepest condolences following the catastrophic plane crash on 23 December 2025. The accident claimed the lives of several high-ranking Libyan military leaders and their companions during their mission in Turkey.
Güler’s tribute extended to the Chief of Staff of the Libyan Army, Lieutenant General Mohammed Al-Haddad, the Commander of the Land Forces, Lieutenant General Al-Fitouri Gribel, and the Director of Military Factories, Brigadier Mahmoud Jumaa Al-Qatiwi, alongside advisor Mohammed Al-Asawi and photographer Mohammed Omar Mahjoub.
The Turkish Defence Minister emphasised that this “great loss” is a tragedy that resonates far beyond the military establishment, affecting the entire Libyan population. Highlighting the solidarity of the Turkish government and people with their Libyan counterparts during this difficult period, Güler offered his sympathies to the families of the victims, praying for mercy for the departed and fortitude for those they left behind.
