Saif al‑Islam Kadhafi Killed in Djebel Nefoussa, Libya

Saif al‑Islam Kadhafi slain on 3 Feb 2026, age 53 – The former regime’s son was assassinated at his home in Zinten, a settlement clinging to the slopes of the Djebel Nefoussa mountain, about 160 km southwest of Tripoli; four gunmen burst in and left him no chance to survive[3].

Four attackers also killed local militia leaders – The assault claimed the lives of Ajmeri Al‑Atiri, chief of the Abou Bakr Al‑Siddiq militia, and his son Mohammed, who were protecting the family at the time[3].

Body displayed on back of a Toyota pick‑up – Libyan social‑media images show Kadhafi’s blood‑stained corpse loosely covered and propped on a Toyota pickup, underscoring the brutality of the killing[3].

Kadhafi lived reclusively in mountainous southwest Libya – He had been a ghost‑like figure hidden in remote parts of Djebel Nefoussa, making occasional clandestine trips into the Fezzan desert of southern Libya, a lifestyle that symbolised lingering nostalgia for the fallen regime[1].

Earlier hopes of a political comeback now extinguished – Speculation that the son might re‑enter Libya’s fractured political scene has been abandoned following his death, ending any immediate prospect of a Kadhafi‑led restoration[1].

Perpetrators’ identities and motives remain unknown – As of Tuesday night, authorities had not identified the killers or their reasons, leaving Libyans to speculate about the motives behind the attack[3].