Saddam Haftar

Saddam Haftar was born in Benghazi{{clarify|reason=Doesn't make sense for him to be born in Benghazi when his father was living in exile the whole time since 1987|date=May 2025}}, Libya in 1991, the youngest of seven children of Libyan politician Khalifa Haftar.{{Cite news |last=Duchene |first=Armand |date=4 September 2023 |title=Libya: 10 things you need to know about Saddam Haftar |work=The Africa Report |url=https://www.theafricareport.com/315005/libya-10-things-you-need-to-know-about-saddam-haftar/ |access-date=17 September 2023}}{{Cite news |last=Uddin |first=Rayhan |date=19 September 2023 |title=Libya floods: Elseddik and Saddam Haftar, the brothers vying for power after disaster |url=https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/libya-floods-elseddik-saddam-haftar-brothers-vying-power |access-date= |work=Middle East Eye}} His mother raised Haftar and his brothers in Benghazi while his father lived in exile in the United States during the rule of Muammar Gaddafi. Not much is known about Haftar's upbringings, and he has no known secondary school qualifications.{{Cite news |last=Jacinto |first=Leela |date=20 September 2023 |title=Haftar's sons rise in Libya's east, bringing 'corruption, death, destruction' |work=France 24 |url=https://www.france24.com/en/africa/20230920-haftar-s-sons-rise-in-libya-s-east-bringing-corruption-death-destruction |access-date=16 October 2023}} He is named after the former president of Iraq Saddam Hussein.{{Cite news |last=Campbell |first=Matthew |date=16 September 2023 |title=Gaddafi’s ‘spiritual son’: the general blamed over flood catastrophe |url=https://www.thetimes.com/world/us-world/article/libya-flood-gaddafi-civil-war-khalifa-haftar-q8500qkgx |access-date= |work=The Times |language=en |issn=0140-0460}}{{Cite news |date=21 September 2023 |title=Khalifa Haftar will use Libya's floods to deepen his control |url=https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2023/09/21/khalifa-haftar-will-use-libyas-floods-to-deepen-his-control |access-date= |work=The Economist}}

He has been commander of the Tariq Ben Zeyad Brigade since its emergence in 2016, which has been accused of crushing any opposition to his father's Libyan Arab Armed Forces{{Cite web |last=Assad |first=Abdulkader |title=Amnesty International: Saddam Haftar-led Tariq bin Ziyad militia are responsible for catalogue horrors in Libya |url=https://libyaobserver.ly/news/amnesty-international-saddam-haftar-led-tariq-bin-ziyad-militia-are-responsible-catalogue |access-date= |website=The Libya Observer |language=en}} and of terrorizing people by committing "unlawful killings, torture and other ill-treatment, enforced disappearance, rape and other sexual violence, and forced displacement — with no fear of consequences".{{Cite web |date=2022-12-19 |title=Libya: Hold commanders of Tariq Ben Zeyad armed group accountable for 'catalogue of horrors' |url=https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2022/12/libya-hold-commanders-of-tariq-ben-zeyad-armed-group-accountable-for-catalogue-of-horrors/ |access-date=2023-02-10 |website=Amnesty International |language=en}} He established the 106th Brigade as a praetorian guard to protect his father and keep tribal militias under LAAF control,{{Cite book |last1=Ardemagni |first1=Eleonora |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lHieEAAAQBAJ&pg=PT38 |title=From Warlords to Statelords: Armed Groups and Power Trajectories in Libya and Yemen |last2=Fasanotti |first2=Federica Saini |date=2022-11-29 |publisher=Ledizioni |isbn=978-88-5526-812-7 |language=en}} and with this he succeeded in recapturing Benghazi in December 2017. In December 2016, Saddam Haftar appeared at a military ceremony in Jordan during the graduation of the students of the Military College, wearing a military uniform. He was granted the ranks of Major and then Lieutenant-Colonel in an exceptional promotion granted to him by the Speaker of the Libyan Parliament, Aguila Saleh. Shortly thereafter, Saddam Haftar was promoted to the rank of Colonel, surpassing Gaddafi himself.{{Cite web |last=العربي |first=محمد |title=صدام حفتر.. نجل الجنرال الليبي الذي يطمح إلى خلافة القذافي |url=https://www.aljazeera.net/midan/reality/politics/2022/11/11/%d8%b5%d8%af%d8%a7%d9%85-%d8%ad%d9%81%d8%aa%d8%b1-%d9%86%d8%ac%d9%84-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%ac%d9%86%d8%b1%d8%a7%d9%84-%d8%a7%d9%84%d9%84%d9%8a%d8%a8%d9%8a-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%b0%d9%8a-%d9%8a%d8%b7%d9%85%d8%ad |access-date=2023-02-10 |website=www.aljazeera.net |language=ar}}

In December 2022, Saddam's Tariq Ben Zeyad Brigade was accused by the Amnesty International of "committing war crimes".{{Cite journal |date=28 December 2018 |title=Chadian militia attack on Libya may help Haftar |url=https://doi.org/10.1108/OXAN-ES240862 |journal=Emerald Expert Briefings |volume= |issue= |doi=10.1108/OXAN-ES240862 |issn=2633-304X|url-access=subscription }}

By May 2023 he held the rank of Brigadier-General.{{cite news |date=4 May 2023 |title=Brigadier General Saddam Haftar leads LNA delegation to inspect oil fields amidst Sudanese conflict |url=https://libyaupdate.com/brigadier-general-saddam-haftar-leads-lna-delegation-to-inspect-oil-fields-amidst-sudanese-conflict/ |access-date= |work=The Libya Update}}

Saddam Haftar was injured during clashes in Tripoli in 2012 following a failed attempt to control the Aman bank. Immediately after he recaptured Benghazi in December 2017, Saddam ordered his men to transfer about 160 million Euros, 639 million Libyan dinars, two million US dollars and 6,000 silver coins from the Central Bank branch in Benghazi to an unknown destination, which has been described as "one of the largest bank heists in history". In December 2022, Saddam Haftar attempted to seize control of banking institutions in Cyrenaica. Saddam's strong control over eastern Libya's banking sector would allow him to finance his forces, equipment and operations.{{Cite web |last=Al-Harathy |first=Safa |date=17 December 2022 |title=Africa Intelligence: Saddam Haftar seeking to take over control of banks in eastern Libya |url=https://libyaobserver.ly/news/africa-intelligence-saddam-haftar-seeking-take-over-control-banks-eastern-libya |access-date= |website=The Libya Observer |language=en}}

A dual Libyan-American citizen, Saddam, along with his brother Khalid Haftar, owns a total of 17 properties in Virginia, United States — where he previously lived for years — collectively worth at least $8 million.{{Cite news |last=Wintour |first=Patrick |date=2020-09-04 |title=Libyan warlord faces legal action in US for alleged war crimes |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/sep/04/khalifa-haftar-libya-warlord-faces-legal-action-us-alleged-war-crimes?utm_source=chatgpt.com |access-date=2025-04-24 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}{{Cite web |title=Libya's Haftar may lose his properties in US lawsuit |url=https://www.aa.com.tr/en/africa/libyas-haftar-may-lose-his-properties-in-us-lawsuit/1743877 |access-date=2025-04-24 |website=www.aa.com.tr}} In February 2020, a lawsuit was filed against Saddam, Khalid, and their father, accusing them of torturing two families to death as members of the LNA, potentially jeopardizing their Virginia properties.{{Cite web |title=Libya's Haftar may lose his properties in US lawsuit |url=https://www.aa.com.tr/en/africa/libyas-haftar-may-lose-his-properties-in-us-lawsuit/1743877 |access-date=2025-04-24 |website=www.aa.com.tr}}

On 1 November 2021, Saddam Haftar reportedly visited Tel Aviv for a secret meeting with Israeli officials, allegedly seeking to establish diplomatic relations in return for Israeli "military and diplomatic assistance".{{Cite web |author= |date=8 November 2021 |title=Son of Libyan warlord reported to visit Israel, offer ties in return for backing |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/son-of-libyan-warlord-reported-to-visit-israel-offer-ties-in-return-for-backing/ |access-date= |website=The Times of Israel |language=en-US}} It is unknown whom he met there, and Libya and Israel currently have no diplomatic relations.{{Cite web |date=7 November 2021 |title=Libya: Son of military commander Khalifa Haftar visited Israel |url=http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/libya-haftar-son-visits-israel |access-date= |website=Middle East Eye |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Libya warlord Haftar's son reportedly in Israel to seek military aid |url=https://www.trtworld.com/middle-east/libya-warlord-haftar-s-son-reportedly-in-israel-to-seek-military-aid-51442 |access-date= |website=TRT World |language=en}}

Later that same month, Saddam Haftar allegedly guaranteed the safety of Saif al-Islam Gaddafi and Bashir Saleh to register themselves as presidential candidates in Sabha. Ten days later, the Tariq Ben Zeyad Brigade, led by Saddam and Khalid, stormed the courthouse in Sabha to prevent judges from hearing Saif al-Islam Gaddafi's appeal to participate in the presidential election. The gunmen used arms against the staffers and judges and then kicked them out.{{Cite web |last=Assad |first=Abdulkader |date=25 November 2021 |title=Pro-Haftar gunmen prevent Sabha court from looking into Saif Gaddafi's appeals |url=https://libyaobserver.ly/news/pro-haftar-gunmen-prevent-sabha-court-looking-saif-gaddafis-appeals |access-date= |website=The Libya Observer |language=en}} In January 2023, Khalifa Haftar pledged to withdraw from the Libyan presidential election on the condition that his sons Saddam and Belqasim are allowed to run.{{Cite web |title=Haftar withdraws from Libya's upcoming presidential elections |url=https://atalayar.com/en/content/haftar-withdraws-libyas-upcoming-presidential-elections |access-date=2023-02-11 |website=Atalayar |language=en}} Saddam Haftar is seen as the heir apparent of Khalifa Haftar.

On 28 April 2025, Saddam, as the envoy of LNA commander Khalifa Haftar, met in Washington D.C. with Massad Boulos, senior advisor to U.S. President Donald Trump, and other senior Republican officials, focusing on advancing U.S. interests to achieve "a secure, unified, and prosperous Libya."{{Cite web |date=2025-04-26 |title=Saddam Haftar meets Trump advisor in Washington {{!}} The Libya Observer |url=https://libyaobserver.ly/news/saddam-haftar-meets-trump-advisor-washington |access-date=2025-04-30 |website=libyaobserver.ly |language=en}} He possibly agreed to a deal with the United States to deport immigrants from the U.S. to Libya.{{Cite news |last=Solomon |first=Erika |last2=Al-Atrash |first2=Islam |date=2025-05-07 |title=Libya’s Rival Governments Both Deny Deal to Take Deported U.S. Migrants |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/07/world/middleeast/libya-us-migrants-deal.html |access-date=2025-05-07 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}

In August 2024, Spain issued an arrest warrant for Saddam Haftar while he was returning to Libya from Italy, alleging that he was involved in smuggling a shipment of weapons, destined for the United Arab Emirates, that was intercepted by Spanish police several months earlier. Various American oligarchs began pressuring Spain to nullify its arrest warrant for Saddam Haftar.{{Cite web |date=2024-08-18 |title=Saddam Haftar closes Sharara Oilfield over Spanish arrest warrant {{!}} The Libya Observer |url=https://libyaobserver.ly/news/saddam-haftar-closes-sharara-oilfield-over-spanish-arrest-warrant |access-date=2024-11-01 |website=libyaobserver.ly |language=en}} Saddam Haftar was reportedly detained for questioning at an airport in Naples for an hour after his name appeared on a common EU database.{{Cite news |last=Wintour |first=Patrick |date=2024-08-06 |title=Oilfield slowdown exposes political volatility in Libya and beyond |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/aug/06/oilfield-slowdown-exposes-political-volatility-in-libya-and-beyond |access-date=2024-11-01 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}

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Category:1991 births

Category:People of the Libyan civil war (2014–2020)

Category:21st-century military personnel

Category:21st-century Libyan politicians

Category:Living people

Category:Libyan generals

Category:People from Benghazi