Numerous nations and regional blocs have condemned Israel’s recognition of Somaliland, a separatist region of Somalia, as an independent state. Israel’s announcement was described as a “deliberate attack” on its sovereignty that undermines efforts to achieve regional harmony.
Published On 28 Dec 2025
Libya’s governor, General Mohammed al-Haddad, and four other well-known military figures are laid to rest in Misrata, Libya, after days of mourning.
Al-Haddad, Mohamed al-Essawi, his senior adviser, Mohamed al-Mahjoub, and his military cameraman, Mohamed al-Mahjoub, were buried in Misrata on Saturday night.
General Fetouri Ghrebil, the head of military manufacturing, and Mahmoud al-Gedewi, the commander of the army’s land forces, were the other victims of the Tuesday aircraft crash in central Turkiye. Their remains were transported to their respective hometowns for burial.
Following meetings with Turkish defense officials in the north African nation, the five returned to the country from Ankara the day after the Turkish parliament approved extending Turkey’s troops’ presence in Libya in an effort to promote international cooperation between Turkiye and Tripoli.
Turkish authorities claim preliminary investigations point to a technical issue.
On Wednesday, a military committee from Libya visited Ankara to assist with the investigation. A committee member informed Al Jazeera that both nations agreed to transfer the aircraft’s flight recorder to a neutral nation for a thorough investigation.
Sources from the Libyan military committee told Al Jazeera that the crash was a “dreadful scene” with body parts scattered everywhere after they visited the location.
Authorities had to put DNA tests on the body parts to determine which airline passenger they were identifying because it was so difficult to identify them.
The bodies were only finally repatriated to Libya after the lengthy, laborious process was finished.
The bodies were loaded onto an airplane for their journey to Libya early on Saturday morning, but things got complicated at that point. First, a Turkish military ceremony was held in their honor.
As local laws and regulations were debatable in the divided nation, the seemingly simple matter of holding funerals for the deceased became a problem.
According to the Libyan Political Agreement, the Presidential Council, a three-member body that is the supreme military commander, oversees the Tripoli government.
Despite the eastern-based parliament signing the deal, Libya’s rival authorities in the east, led by rebel leader Khalifa Haftar, do not recognize them.
Some people viewed Al-Haddad as a peaceable dictator who enjoyed the respect of allies in the nation.
He played a significant part in the Haftar-led military offensive against him in Tripoli in 2019, which saw the latter’s forces stationed on the outskirts of the city.
Government forces retook western Libya and forced Haftar to the east under al-Haddad’s rule, and al-Haddad helped secure the 2020 national ceasefire agreement.
Haftar expressed his condolences to his family in a statement that said he was “deeply saddened” by the death of al-Haddad.
Government forces and the Special Deterrent Force, a powerful armed group that is opposed to the interim interim prime minister in Tripoli, clashed in May around Mitiga International Airport.
The Special Deterrent Force (SDF) was given the ultimatum to hand over the airport, their prisons, and integrate into the state security apparatus if the government wanted to be targeted.
The Turkish government intervened and reached a ceasefire, and the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) and the Presidential Council established a truce committee.
It is undoubtedly difficult to find a replacement for al-Haddad. General Salah al-Namroush, his deputy, was temporarily appointed by the presidential council.
Al-Namroush’s eulogy “bid farewell to the men of the nation who carried the burdens of the nation and gave discipline a way of life and a responsibility to lead.”
He pledged to continue “unifying the army” and would follow in the footsteps of al-Haddad.
Political analyst Mohamed Mahfoudh stated to Al Jazeera, “I expect a decision to be made within the next ten days, given the importance of the position, given the already-going discussions.”
Officials in Libya announced earlier this month that they planned to reshuffle the cabinet following widespread outcry and recent protests against the government.
The shuffle was supposed to be made public on December 24, but al-Haddad’s passing delayed that.
The cabinet reshuffle discussion will now include the appointment of the chief of staff. Therefore, Haddad’s replacement might be someone with the skills to fill the position rather than someone with the credentials to do so.
That’s a worry that many of us have, Mahfoudh said.
The government in Tripoli had to pick up the bodies of al-Haddad and other military personnel at the city’s international airport, which was destroyed in 2014 fighting, as an illustration of Libya’s division.
It is currently being renovated, and it currently only functions government and emergency medical evacuation aircraft.
However, PM Dbeibah was unable to attend Mitiga International Airport, which is now Tripoli’s main commercial airport, because it is under the control of SDF.
He won’t be welcomed.
At Tripoli International Airport, Dbeibah, members of the Presidential Council, and senior government and military personnel also waited for the bodies.
They were transported to a military base in southern Tripoli for a ceremony in honor of Mohamed al-Menfi, the head of the Presidential Council, who declared “the promotion of each martyr to the next rank,” making al-Haddad a field marshal posthumously.
At the ceremony, Dbeibah remarked that Field Marshal Mohamed al-Haddad was a fundamental figure in maintaining stability and protecting the state.
He assured the public that Turkiye and his investigation into the crash are still conducting their fullest and most reliable investigations.
On Saturday night, the bodies of Al-Haddad, al-Essawi, and al-Mahjoub were transported to their Misrata hometowns.
People from all over the nation gathered on Sunday morning to pay their respects.
In the Misrata football stadium, hundreds of people prayed a final farewell to the deceased. In order to give people time to relax before the funeral, Misrata City officials declared the day as an official holiday.
Abdullah Allafi, a tribal leader from western Libya’s Nafusa Mountains, drove hundreds of kilometers to pay his respects at 3am from home.
When asked about the death of al-Haddad, he responded, “It’s a huge loss. We all suffer loss from Mohamed al-Haddad’s passing, and so does Libya. He had a sincere patriotism. Allah, rest his soul.
Hugh Morris, 62, passed away from cricket after a distinguished career that he led both front and back.
He excelled as a first baseman for Glamorgan and England, and he was a specialist in terms of playing.
However, Morris was an extraordinary all-rounder throughout his entire career in cricket.
He oversaw one of England’s Test history’s most prosperous years as the England and Wales Cricket Board’s (ECB) chief executive.
Morris left on a high the day after England won the 2013 Ashes series for the third time in a row, taking the job of county manager.
Morris made his Glamorgan debut at the age of 17, and he was still a student at Blundell’s School in Devon, where he set several batting records. He was born in Cardiff in 1963.
He became Glamorgan’s youngest skipper in 1986 after taking the Young England cap, before resigning the position three years later to concentrate on his batting.
That was a wise choice, in my opinion. He won his first of his three England caps the following year when he reached the Glamorgan record of 10 centuries and 2 276 runs in 1990.
In 1993, Morris resumed the Glamorgan captaincy, leading England A on trips to South Africa, West Indies, and Sri Lanka.
He won the county’s first major trophy since 1969, leading the team to the Sunday League title that year.
Morris began what would be an illustrious post-playing career, beginning with the ECB as technical coaching director.
Following stints as acting and deputy chief executive, he assumed the position permanently and presided over an era when the England men’s Test team reached its height with three straight Ashes series victories.
Morris made the announcement to step down from his ECB role one day after England won the 2013 Ashes match with a score of 3-0. He displayed a sense of timing befitting his playing days and the knack of bowing out on a high.
As chief executive, Morris oversaw a significant reduction in the county’s debts after returning to Glamorgan and taking over efforts to ensure The Hundred franchise Welsh Fire lived in Sophia Gardens.
Morris was a welcoming and unassuming presence around Glamorgan’s home ground in Cardiff despite his status as a player and occasionally by assisting ticket sales on busier matchdays.
After surviving throat cancer that was discovered in 2002, he patronized Heads Up, a charity that supported research into head and neck cancer. He was given the MBE 20 years later for his contributions to cricket and charity.
After being diagnosed with bowel cancer in January of that year, Morris left his position as Glamorgan’s chief executive in September of that year to spend time with his family while receiving treatment.
Morris was unable to attend the ceremony when he was inducted into the Welsh Sports Hall of Fame in 2024 because he was a guest of honor at a family wedding.
Former England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) chief executive and former England and Glamorgan player Hugh Morris passed away at the age of 62.
He left his position as Glamorgan’s chief executive in September 2023 to spend time with his family while undergoing treatment after being diagnosed with bowel cancer in January of that year.
Morris, who had two spells as Glamorgan’s captain and won the 1993 Sunday League title, was a prolific opening batter.
Additionally, he captained England A on trips to South Africa, the West Indies, and Sri Lanka and won three full England caps.
The Welshman worked for the ECB for 16 years before retiring.
He was responsible for the England men’s Test team’s record-breaking Ashes series, which won three straight as chief executive.
After surviving throat cancer, which was discovered in 2002, Morris patronized Heads Up, a charity that supported research into head and neck cancer. His unrelated cancer diagnosis in 2022.
An open plastic bottle containing water appeared to be pouring down Villa’s celebrating bench, splashing staff, and players after the full-time whistle.
The area where the bottle appeared to be coming from, which appeared to be filled with both Chelsea fans and staff, was pointed out by one member of the staff.
Who is to blame is still a mystery. Chelsea has opened an investigation, but it has not yet made an official statement.
Additionally, it’s unclear whether Stuart Attwell and his staff members witnessed the incident or whether it will be included in his report. The Football Association has been contacted by CBS Sport for comment.
Ollie Watkins scored twice to overturn Joao Pedro’s Chelsea opener in the first half.
Following the Ashes series defeat, England players are “absolutely committed” to the team’s management, according to Joe Root, and any changes would be “silly” made.
After the first three Tests in Australia ended under pressure, captain Ben Stokes, head coach Brendon McCullum, and cricket director Rob Key have all been under pressure.
However, England ended an 18-game winless streak down under, which dates back to 2011, by winning the fourth Test, a two-day outing in Melbourne.
After the Ashes, all of Stokes, McCullum, and Key have said they want to stay on, and their cases will be strengthened by a fifth Test win in Sydney, which will start on Sunday (23:30 GMT, Saturday).
We’re completely committed to the management, according to England’s all-time leading Test run-scorer, Bless Root.
“Yes, we can be better, and there are some things we’ll work on in the future,” management said.
They may behave differently, but I believe the group has made great strides as a whole because of the men who are our supporters.
Root led England’s final appearance in Australia, which ended with a 4-0 defeat in 2021-22. While Root would later resign, the tour cost coach Chris Silverwood and cricket director Ashley Giles’ jobs.
The Test team was initially revitalized by Stokes, McCullum, and Key after they all arrived for the summer of 2022. McCullum was given a contract extension until 2027, which included his 2024 appointment as head coach of the white-ball teams.
Just before this Ashes series, Stokes matched his England deal with that time period.
If fitness is good, Stokes will likely lead the Ashes’ team, which will complicate the situation with a T20 World Cup opener in India and Sri Lanka in the first half of the year.
England’s coaches and cricket directors are responsible for both their planning, preparation, and off-field activities as well as their results.
However, Root defended the England leadership by saying, “You look at the group of players we have, you look at the guys that were on the team when I was the captain, four years ago, and you look at their records individually, and every one of them has improved as a player.
This team has grown,” he said. The amount of work and tasks that have been accomplished would be absurd, in my opinion.
Root, who first visited Australia in 2013 and 2014, played in all but one of the 18 games without winning.
The Yorkshireman turns 35 on Tuesday, and he looks certain to be a part of England’s attempt to win the urn in the summer of 2027, when the country will host the Ashes for the first time in 12 years.
Root will be almost 39 when England next travels to Australia in 2029-30.
Root was questioned about finally winning at least one tour in this country because it was uncertain whether or not he would make another one. He responded, “It would be better if we win next week as well.”
It’s historically been very difficult for us to win this series because it is steeped in history. If we can continue doing that and build on it the next time, we can move forward with that for the upcoming tour here.
“There are things we’ll have to work on to learn and grow from, but I try not to make too many regrets.” You must look forward, in my opinion.
