Saif al Islam Gaddafi, the son of Libya’s late dictator Muammar Gaddafi, has been shot dead by gunmen who broke into his home, officials have said.

The 53-year-old was killed during a “direct confrontation” with four armed men in the Libyan town of Zintan, south-west of the capital Tripoli, his office said in a statement on Tuesday.

His lawyer, Khaled al Zaidi, and separately his adviser Abdullah Othman Abdurrahim, both confirmed his death on Facebook, without providing details.

Despite holding no official position, the second son of the longtime dictator, was once seen as the most powerful figure in the ⁠oil-rich North African country after his father, who ruled for more than four decades.

Saif al Islam Gaddafi shaped policy and was involved in high-profile diplomacy, including talks on weapons of mass destruction and compensation for the families of those killed in the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie in Scotland in 1988.

Educated at the London School of ​Economics and a fluent English speaker, he was once seen by many governments as the acceptable, Western-friendly face of Libya.

But when a rebellion broke out against his father’s regime in 2011, he became an architect of ‍a brutal crackdown on rebels.

After fighters took over the capital, he was captured attempting to flee to neighbouring Niger – about a month after his father was hunted down and shot dead by rebels.

In 2015, a Libyan court sentenced him to death for war crimes. He was also wanted by the International Criminal Court, accused of crimes against humanity.

He spent six years detained in the town of Zintan. It was a far cry from the charmed life he had lived during his father’s rule when he had pet tigers and mingled with high society on trips abroad. He was released by the militia in 2017 under an amnesty.

Read more from Sky News:
Boy swims for four hours to save family
Deadly heavy snowfall in Japan

In 2021, he attempted to run for president, but was opposed by many who had suffered at the hands of his father’s rule. He was also disqualified from the election because of his 2015 conviction.

His candidacy became a point of contention and the election process stalled amid arguments between powerful armed groups.

In an interview with The New York Times Magazine in 2021, he discussed his political ​strategy.

“I’ve been away from the Libyan people for 10 years,” he said.

“You need to come back slowly, slowly. Like a striptease. You need to play with their minds a little.”

Libya remains deeply divided, with rival administrations in the east and west, after the nation descended into anarchy following the fall of Muammar Gaddafi’s regime.

The former dictator was killed by opposition fighters during the uprising, which turned into a civil war. Most of his eight children had significant roles in government.

Republican Louisiana state Sen. Blake Miguez, who last year mounted a primary challenge against incumbent GOP Sen. Bill Cassidy, has announced that he is switching to run for U.S. House.

Miguez’s move comes after President Donald Trump-backed Rep. Julia Letlow, R-La., jumped into the U.S. Senate race last month.

“When I announced my campaign for the U.S. Senate last year, I promised Louisianians I would stand with President Trump and fight for an America First agenda that puts Louisiana families first,” Miguez said, according to a press release. “I remain committed to that promise, and I’m ready to deliver the kind of representation that will support President Trump and help advance the mission to Make America Great Again.”

TRUMP ENDORSEMENT ROCKS LOUISIANA SENATE RACE AS LETLOW JUMPS IN

Left: Louisiana state Sen. Blake Miguez; Right: U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy (Left: senate.la.gov; Right: SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images)

Miguez had declared in a campaign video that he was “running for the U.S. Senate because Bill Cassidy sucks.”

Cassidy was one of the Senate Republicans who voted to convict Trump after the House impeached him in 2021 — the Senate vote, which occurred after Trump had already departed from office, fell short of the threshold needed for conviction.

REPUBLICAN DROPS PRIMARY CHALLENGE AGAINST INCUMBENT SEN CASSIDY AFTER TRUMP-BACKED CANDIDATE ENTERS RACE

U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, R-La., questions Doug Collins, U.S. President Donald Trump’s nominee to be the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs, testifies during his Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee confirmation hearing in the Dirksen Senate Office Building on Jan. 21, 2025 in Washington, D.C. (Samuel Corum/Getty Images)

Letlow announced a U.S. Senate bid last month after Trump urged her to run and pledged to back her.

“Should she decide to enter this Race, Julia Letlow has my Complete and Total Endorsement. RUN, JULIA, RUN!!!” Trump declared in a Truth Social post.

Louisiana state Rep. Julie Emerson also nixed her U.S. Senate bid after Letlow entered the contest.

GOP LOUISIANA STATE SENATOR SAYS HE’S RUNNING FOR US SENATE BECAUSE INCUMBENT REPUBLICAN ‘SUCKS’

U.S. President Donald Trump stands with U.S. Rep. Julia Letlow, R-La., during the Congressional Ball at the Grand Foyer of the White House on Dec. 11, 2025 in Washington, D.C. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

“With Congresswoman Letlow’s entrance into the race, the path to victory that was visible a couple of months ago has diminished. I support President Trump and respect his decision to endorse Julia Letlow to defeat Bill Cassidy. Because of this, I’m choosing to end my campaign now,” Emerson said in a statement last month.

Pakistanis are extremely irritated after hearing the news of reduction in US tariffs on India. Pakistani expert Qamar Cheema says that India has the lowest tariff in the whole of Asia and India must have asked America to impose 18 percent tariff so that it is one percent less than Pakistan. 19 percent tariff is applicable on Pakistan.

US President Donald Trump on Monday (February 2, 2026) announced the long-pending trade deal with India and reduction of tariff from 50 percent to 18 percent. On this, Pak expert Qamar Cheema said, ‘India has got the lowest tariffs in Asia. India 18 percent, Pakistan 19 percent. Indians must have told Trump that we will make this deal with you, but in terms of tariff, we must keep it 1 percent below Pakistan. We do not want to be put at par with Pakistan. I am telling you this 100 percent, then 18 percent tariff was imposed.

Qamar Cheema said that India has brought itself in front of Pakistan. It is an interesting thing. He said that there is 34 percent tariff on Indonesia 19, Thailand 19, Bangladesh 20, Vietnam 20 and China. Now the White House has confirmed that the 25 percent tariff imposed on India for buying Russian oil will also be removed. Qamar Cheema said that the final tariff is 18 percent. Everyone is saying the same thing that 19 percent for Pakistan and 18 percent for India. Everyone is saying this.

Qamar Cheema said that the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) that India has signed with the European Union pushed America to make a trade deal with India. On January 27, India signed an FTA with the European Union, which was called the Mother of All Deals. Under this, India can sell its goods in the markets of 27 European countries at low or zero tariff. Similarly, goods from European countries will also be able to be sold in the Indian markets.

Pak expert said that in one of the posts that Mr Trump posted on Truth Social, he has said that PM Modi is my very good friend and he will buy oil from Venezuela and America. Secondly, he has said that our friendship will remain like this. A very interesting scenario has emerged.

In fall 2024, the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) women’s volleyball team fell under national scrutiny when it was entwined in the San Jose State (SJSU) trans athlete scandal. 

The U.S. Department of Education (ED) announced that it had found SJSU in violation of Title IX on Wednesday, and weeks earlier it announced that UNR is now under investigation for potential Title IX violations for its handling of a scheduled match against SJSU in 2024. 

Fox News Digital has obtained exclusive details related to UNR’s handling of the situation via testimony from those involved, and public records provided by April Chainey, the mother of a UNR player at the time.

UNR didn’t have a Title IX officer present at a critical meeting

On Oct. 7, 2024, UNR administrators sat down its women’s volleyball players in a meeting. The purpose was to inform the players that the team would not be forfeiting an upcoming home match against SJSU. At the time, four other schools had already forfeited to the Spartans amid a national controversy involving trans player Blaire Fleming.

UNR players privately expressed a desire to forfeit as well, but informed them that wouldn’t be the school’s position at the meeting. 

UNR did not have a Title IX officer at that meeting, according to an Oct. 12, 2024 email sent by the school’s athletics director Stephanie Rempe. 

“Our Title IX Officer was not present,” read Rempe’s email in response to an inquiry by UNR Chancellor Charlton. 

Former UNR women’s volleyball captain Sia Liilii called the meeting a “horrible” experience.

EDUCATION DEPT LAUNCHES 18 TITLE IX PROBES AFTER SCOTUS HEARS ARGUMENTS IN EFFORTS TO PROTECT WOMEN’S SPORTS

Sia Li’ili’i speaks during an IWF event. (Independent Women’s Forum)

“This meeting was horrible,” Liilii told Fox News Digital. 

“It took place after the school decided to make a choice for us and it was uncomfortable. They told us there was no advantage by Blaire because she was on estrogen and testosterone blockers in order to level the playing field. A bunch of the girls and I expressed not wanting to play for the reasons of safety, fairness, and an opportunity for women in sports being taken away by a male athlete. Instead of supporting this decision we were told that maybe we should think about all the ‘facts’ first in case we wanted to reconsider. 

“It was very concerning that this meeting had no title IX officer and we were given a bunch of ‘facts’ that were not backed in truth.”

Chainey said she was “traumatized” as a mother. So she filed a Title IX complaint to the ED’s Office of Civil Rights.

“I just couldn’t believe it,” Chainey told Fox News Digital. 

“UNR Athletics Department discriminated by not suggesting or offering a Title IX officer to be present… I was mad, really made. I felt like there was nobody there to protect the teams and the players… they really dismissed [the player’s voices] because their voice did not fit in the NCAA gender ideology agenda… 

“I was disgusted when I saw that happening.” 

UNR warned players of potential ‘legal issues’ if they did not play SJSU, and one witness alleges ‘emotional blackmail’

After UNR announced in October it would play SJSU, the Wolfpack players did not back down. 

They went public with their intent to not play the game. 

The school had a national controversy on its hands, all while the volleyball season was still going on. 

Marshi Smith, a former NCAA swimmer and co-founder of the Independent Council on Women’s Sports (ICONS), is a Nevada resident who also leads the Nevada Lieutenant Governor’s task force on the protection of women’s sports. During that season, the UNR players reached out to her to share the alleged treatment they received from the university as they sought to escape their match with SJSU.

“There was sweeping intimidation for the girls on UNR’s volleyball team to stand down on their decision not to play San Jose State University. There were multiple different tactics, from emotional blackmail to even insinuation that legal disputes could be brought,” Smith alleged. 

“It was unclear to them exactly what that meant. But when someone in a position of authority threatens you with various consequences for you standing up for your rights, that’s a really serious thing.” 

UNR previously confirmed to Fox News Digital that it had raised the concern of “legal issues” to the players if they did not play the match.

SJSU VOLLEYBALL TEAM FAILS TO MAKE CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT IN FIRST SEASON AFTER TRANS ATHLETE SCANDAL

“University administrators met with the Nevada volleyball team and discussed scenarios of what could happen if they chose not to play. One of the scenarios that was discussed revolved around possible legal issues for violating the Nevada Constitution,” UNR said last January. 

The state’s constitution was revised in 2022, when Democrat lawmakers voted to adopt the Equal Rights Amendment, which added gender identity to its list of diversity classifications that are protected under state law. 

UNR athletics staff was ‘concerned’ about players interacting with Riley Gaines and conservative lawmakers

After the players went public with their intent not to play SJSU in October, UNR had a national media landmine to navigate. 

During correspondence about media requests and interview, UNR Assistant AD of Strategic Communications Aaron Juarez told Rempe he had a “concern” about the players meeting with conservative influencer Riley Gaines and Idaho lawmakers for photo-ops.

Nevada Wolf Pack women’s volleyball players with Sam Brown and Tulsi Gabbard. (Sam Brown Campaign)

“My main concern isn’t with media talking to Shannon, it is Idaho legislators and other types (i.e., the Idaho Freedom Foundation) connecting with [redacted] and any of our players, or the players connecting with them for photo ops and such. Or that our team sports these shirts from Riley Gaines,” the email wrote. 

The players ultimately did meet with and take photos with Gaines, and GOP politicians, including Tulsi Gabbard, former U.S. Senate candidate and military veteran Sam Brown and Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla.

GOP Senate candidate Sam Brown, left, poses with Nevada’s Sia Liilii, center right, and former Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard. (Sam Brown Campaign)

UNR athletics included ‘next steps in transgender education’ on an agenda

An Oct. 24 email from Rempe to Senior Associate Athletic Director of Administration Casey Stangel appearing to outline the UNR athletic department’s upcoming priorities lists “Next steps transgender education” as the final point.

Fox News Digital has reached out to UNR to request clarification for why the point was on the agenda and what those next steps were. 

The match was never played, and the season fell apart

The university stated in communication with the public that players would be free to not participate in the SJSU match, without consequence. 

The game was ultimately moved from Nevada to San Jose just days before the Oct. 26, 2024 date. Then, just a day before the game, UNR announced they would forfeit due to not having enough players willing to compete.

The team then went 1-7 to finish the season after that, finishing 12-17 and well out of the postseason picture. 

“This situation hit our team morale pretty hard. It was a huge distraction and took us away from what we were there to do play volleyball. Being pulled in and out of meetings and being asked about the events from outsiders really got to our heads,” Liilii said.

For Liilii, the impact of the situation even bled into her personal life.

“In regard to personal life, I can speak for myself that I have lost friends over being a vocal part of this issue. Which is unfortunate, but I believe strongly that this is just not right and something I couldn’t stay silent about then,” she said.  

Chainey said the morale of her daughter’s team was “horrible,” and was “infuriated” that the team had to take a loss from the forfeit.

“For them to get punished like that, it’s infuriating, because they shouldn’t have had to take a forfeit, they shouldn’t have taken a loss, because it reflected in their standings,” Chainey said. 

“These young female adults, they are being bullied.”

Things didn’t get better for UNR in 2025, slipping to last place in the Mountain West conference at 8-20, and now faces a federal investigation in 2026. 

Meanwhile, Liilii has moved on and is playing pro volleyball outside of the country.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

“My pro volleyball career has been fun. I just wrapped up a season in Kosovo and I will be moving to play in Germany for 2026. My involvement hasn’t impeded anything, but I have been asked about the situation and why I feel so strongly about this issue. I have learned this issue has a lot of support from females from other countries,” Liilii said. 

Now, Liilii, Chainey and Smith await the pending consequences on SJSU and UNR from the federal government.

Meanwhile, Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo is doing his part to prevent similar situations in his state. 

Lombardo announced in early January that he’s leading a petition to amend the Nevada Constitution to keep transgender athletes out of girls’ and women’s sports.

The proposed ballot initiative would require the state and other entities that receive public funds such as schools, college or local athletic programs, or entities that govern them to categorize each sport or competition as male, female, or coeducational/mixed sex.

UNR’s response

UNR has provided a statement to Fox News Digital addressing all of the above findings and testimony. 

“The University has received correspondence from the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights and has responded appropriately through the proper legal and administrative channels.

“The University remains committed to fostering an inclusive, supportive, and respectful campus environment for all of our students. We recognize and uphold our responsibilities under state and federal law, including the U.S. and Nevada Constitutions. The University also remains in compliance with the rules and regulations of the Mountain West Conference and NCAA.  

“As stated in the University’s statement from Oct. 17, 2024, the administration communicated that the University supported the players’ rights to choose not to participate and that any member of the women’s Wolf Pack volleyball team that opted out of participating in the match could do so without consequence and would not be subjected to any team disciplinary action.

“Our focus remains on ensuring that every student has the opportunity to pursue their educational and professional goals in a safe and welcoming environment.”

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.