Ankara, December 24, 2025 – The Turkish President offered his condolences to Libya, its government, and its people on the death of Chief of Staff Mohammed Ali Al-Haddad and his companions, following the crash of their plane in Ankara on Tuesday.
This came during his speech at the expanded meeting of the Justice and Development Party provincial heads, held in the capital, Ankara.
Regarding this, Erdogan said: “On behalf of my country and the Turkish people, I offer my condolences to the brotherly Libyan people, the Libyan Armed Forces, and the government.”
The Turkish President confirmed that investigations have begun to determine the causes of the painful incident and the plane crash.
Ankara
Ankara is the capital city of Turkey, strategically located in the central Anatolia region. It was declared the capital in 1923 by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, replacing Istanbul to symbolize the new, modern, and secular Republic of Turkey. The city’s history dates back millennia, with ancient roots as an important settlement for Hittites, Phrygians, and Romans.
Libya
Libya is a North African country with a rich history rooted in ancient civilizations like the Phoenicians and Romans, followed by centuries of Arab and Ottoman influence. In the modern era, it was an Italian colony before gaining independence in 1951, later becoming known for Muammar Gaddafi’s lengthy rule from 1969 until the 2011 revolution. Its cultural sites include the well-preserved Roman ruins of Leptis Magna, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Turkish President
The Turkish President is the head of state of the Republic of Turkey, a role established with the republic’s founding in 1923. The position, first held by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, was largely ceremonial under a parliamentary system until constitutional changes in 2017 transitioned the country to an executive presidency, granting the officeholder expanded powers.
Justice and Development Party
The Justice and Development Party (AKP) is a major political party in Turkey, founded in 2001 by Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and other politicians from Islamist and conservative backgrounds. It has been the dominant ruling party since its first electoral victory in 2002, shaping modern Turkish politics with a platform that combines conservative social values, economic liberalization, and a populist approach.
Erdogan
Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is a Turkish politician who has served as the 12th and current president of Turkey since 2014, after previously being the prime minister from 2003 to 2014. His political career, beginning with his role as mayor of Istanbul in the 1990s, has been defined by his leadership of the Justice and Development Party (AKP) and a period of significant economic growth and increased political influence for Turkey, alongside controversies over democratic backsliding and authoritarian tendencies.
Libyan Armed Forces
The Libyan Armed Forces are the official military forces of Libya, originally established after the country gained independence in 1951. Following the 2011 revolution and the fall of Muammar Gaddafi’s government, the forces fragmented into various competing groups aligned with different political factions and governments.
