Gaddafi’s Son Granted $11M Bail in Lebanon

Gaddafi’s Son Granted $11M Bail in Lebanon

By TheNationWeek.Com | October 21, 2025

BEIRUT, Lebanon – In a stunning legal twist, a Lebanese judge has ordered the release of Hannibal Gaddafi, son of the late Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi, after nearly a decade of pre-trial detention.

The decision, delivered on Friday, October 17, 2025, mandates an exorbitant $11 million bail for Gaddafi, while simultaneously barring him from leaving the country.

Gaddafi’s 2015 arrest stems from allegations that he withheld information regarding the 1978 disappearance of prominent Lebanese Shiite cleric Mussa Sadr, a case that has long poisoned relations between Lebanon and Libya.

However, the astronomical bail amount has ignited a firestorm of controversy.

Gaddafi’s legal team has denounced the ruling as “unacceptable,” characterizing his detention as arbitrary and questioning the practicality of securing such a sum for a man subject to international sanctions.

“How can he possibly access such a colossal amount?” questioned lawyer Laurent Bayon, highlighting the inherent impossibility of the situation.

Mussa Sadr, the influential founder of the Amal movement, vanished during a visit to Libya alongside an aide and a journalist. Lebanon has consistently held Muammar Gaddafi responsible for their disappearance, a grievance that has festered since the elder Gaddafi’s overthrow in 2011.

Hannibal Gaddafi, after seeking refuge in Syria, was allegedly kidnapped in December 2015 and subsequently delivered to Lebanese authorities.

Human Rights Watch recently joined the chorus of critics, calling for his immediate release and arguing that his prolonged detention rests on flimsy accusations.

Concerns have been mounting about Gaddafi’s deteriorating health, with reports of severe depression leading to hospitalization for abdominal issues.

Meanwhile, Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri has publicly criticized Libyan authorities for their alleged lack of cooperation in the Sadr case, a claim vehemently denied by Libya.

Heightened Tensions on Border: Israeli Military Conducts Large-Scale Drills

The Gaddafi case unfolds against a backdrop of escalating tensions along Lebanon’s southern border.

The Israeli military has commenced a significant training exercise, scheduled to continue until Thursday, encompassing ground, air, and naval maneuvers across the Galilee region.

According to Israeli military spokesperson Avichay Adraee, the operation aims to bolster multi-branch coordination in response to potential threats and safeguard key areas.

The military has warned residents of loud explosions, simulated enemy actions, and increased troop movements.

This exercise follows a recent escalation of ceasefire violations involving Hezbollah, including an Israeli drone strike that resulted in the death of a civilian in southern Lebanon.

The airstrikes, coupled with the ongoing military drills, underscore the fragility of the current ceasefire agreement and raise the specter of renewed conflict along the volatile Israel-Lebanon border.