Chicago – February 03, 2026
Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, once a key figure in his father’s regime and later a candidate for political revival, has died at age 53, according to multiple Libyan sources.
Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, son of late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, was killed in Zintan, western Libya, where he had lived for years, His lawyer Khaled el-Zaydi and adviser Abdullah Othman confirmed the news on February 3, 2026.
Libyan media reported the attack occurred at his residence by unidentified assailants, with surveillance cameras disabled beforehand; the Attorney General’s Office launched an investigation, while a local brigade denied involvement. Details remain unclear, as Libyan authorities have not officially commented.
Though never holding formal office, Saif wielded immense influence as his father’s de facto number two from 2000 to 2011, suppressing dissent during the revolution that toppled Muammar Gaddafi. He faced ICC charges for crimes against humanity and a 2015 death sentence in absentia by a Tripoli court for quelling protests.
Captured in 2011, he was released in 2017 under amnesty and pursued a political comeback, though his profile faded amid Libya’s instability. His death closes a chapter for the Gaddafi legacy.
