Saif al-Islam Gaddafi Son of of Muammar Gaddafi shot Dead in Zintan Home Assassination

Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, the most prominent son and one-time heir apparent of late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, has been shot dead at his residence in the western city of Zintan. He was 53.

Libya’s Attorney General’s Office confirmed today (February 4) that forensic experts have examined the body and determined the cause of death as multiple gunshot wounds. The assassination reportedly occurred on Tuesday when a four-man commando unit stormed his home after disabling security cameras.

While his sister claimed he died near the Algerian border, his political team and legal counsel, Khaled al-Zaidi, confirmed he was targeted in Zintan, where he had lived since his release from militia custody in 2017. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack.

Saif al-Islam was a polarizing figure who served as the "reformist face" of his father's regime before the 2011 uprising. He was wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for crimes against humanity and had been sentenced to death in absentia by a Tripoli court in 2015.

His death effectively ends the Gaddafi family's recent attempts to return to power following his 2021 presidential candidacy.