Abdul Fatah Younis
Abdul Fatah Younis Al-Obeidi (/ˈɑːbdəl fəˈtɑː ˈjuːnɪs/ ⓘ; Arabic: عبد الفتاح يونس, sometimes transliterated Fattah Younis or Fattah Younes or Fatah Younes; 1944 – 28 July 2011) was a senior Libyan military officer. He held the rank of major general and the post of minister of interior, but resigned on 22 February 2011 and defected to the rebel side in the First Libyan Civil War. He was considered a key supporter of Muammar Gaddafi or even No. 2 in the Libyan government.
Abdul Fatah Younis | |
|---|---|
Younis in 1970 | |
| Native name | عبد الفتاح يونس |
| Born | 1944 Jebel Akhdar, Libya |
| Died | 28 July 2011 (aged 66–67) Benghazi, Libya |
| Allegiance | Kingdom of Libya (until 1969) Libyan Arab Jamahiriya (until 2011) National Transitional Council (2011) |
| Service/ | National Liberation Army |
| Rank | Major General |
| Battles/wars | First Libyan Civil War — Battle of Ra's Lanuf — First Battle of Brega — Battle of Bin Jawad — Second Battle of Brega — Battle of Ajdabiya — Second Battle of Benghazi — Late March 2011 Libyan rebel offensive — Third Battle of Brega — Battle of Brega-Ajdabiya road — Fourth Battle of Brega |
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). The NTC's oil minister Ali Tarhouni said Younis was killed by members of an anti-Gaddafi militia.