Abdul Fatah Younis

Who was Abdul Fatah Younis?

Abdul Fatah Younis Al-Obeidi was a senior military officer in Libya. He held the rank of Major General and the post of minister of interior, but resigned on 22 February 2011 to defect to the rebel side in what was to become the Libyan civil war. He was considered a key supporter of Muammar Gaddafi or even No. 2 in the Libyan government.

In resigning, he urged that the Libyan army should "join the people and respond to their legitimate demands". In an interview with John Simpson on 25 February, he said he believed Gaddafi would fight to the death, or commit suicide.

On 29 July 2011, Younis was reported dead by Libya's National Transitional Council. NTC's oil minister Ali Tarhouni said Younis was killed by members of an anti-Gaddafi militia.