(The content of this article is based on the collation of data, and there are cited sources at the end of the article.) ）
On October 25, 2011, Mutassim · Gaddafi, the "hawk" military number two of the former Libya regime, remained incredibly calm in the face of enemy humiliation in the final moments of his life.
He held a cigarette in one hand, gulped mineral water, and calmly mocked his rebels.
This moment became the last image he left to the world.
Mu'Tassim's path to growth
Born in 1977, Mutasim · Gaddafi is the fifth son of Libya leader Muammar Gaddafi, whose mother Safiya is Gaddafi's second wife.
As one of Gaddafi's favorite sons, Mutasim received special attention from an early age. His name has a noble meaning in Arabic, which symbolizes Gaddafi's high hopes that he will become a mainstay of the family's future.
Gaddafi had high hopes for his son, and often appeared in public with young Mutasim to show the outside world his love and expectations for his son.
At the age of two, Mutasim made his media debut when Gaddafi was interviewed by the BBC in United Kingdom, appearing in front of the camera with his young son. This move signaled Mutassim's status in the family to the outside world, and also conveyed the importance that Gaddafi attached to him.
In order to train Mutasim to become his successor, Gaddafi arranged a strict education program for Mutasim.
Mutasim completed his studies at the Fatah Medical College in Tripoli, one of the top universities in Libya. The medical school education not only enabled Mutasim to master medical knowledge, but also cultivated his meticulous thinking skills and tenacity.
A qualified successor requires not only intellectual superiority, but also military excellence. Therefore, after completing his medical studies, Mutassim was sent to the military academy in Egypt for formal military training.
There, he distinguished himself by then-Egypt President Hosni Mubarak, which further cemented his prestige and position in military circles.
Upon his return to Libya, Mutassim quickly entered politics and began his military career.
In 1998, he was awarded the rank of colonel, becoming the second man in the Libya military. This appointment is not only a recognition of his military talents, but also a symbol of Gaddafi's trust and expectations for him.
During this period, Mutassim rarely appeared in public, but this did not prevent him from standing in the hearts of the Libya people. Many Libya see him as a national hero and a hope for the future.
Brotherly feud
Mutasim's meteoric rise in Libya politics has attracted the attention and jealousy of his brothers, especially his second brother, Saif · Gaddafi.
Saif studied in the West for many years and was influenced by Western ideas to advocate the modernization of the country through democratic reforms. Mutassim, by contrast, adheres to a tough stance on national sovereignty and military power, which has led to serious political divisions between the two.
The disagreement of political positions gradually turned into an open power struggle.
Mutassim received $28 billion from his father in 2008 to build his own special forces. This special forces unit is not only well-equipped, but also undergoes rigorous military training, making it an elite force in the Libya army.
Mutassim is widely believed to be the most likely of Qaddafi's sons to succeed in their father's mantle.
The rapid rise of Mutassim's special forces caused discontent among Saif and his supporters. Saif believes that Mutassim is too focused on building military power and neglects political and economic reforms, which will leave Libya isolated and dangerous.
In 2009, as Muttasim's special forces took shape, he began recruiting talent and officers from other departments to bolster the force.
Saif used his political clout to thwart Mutassim's plans with other politicians. The two had heated arguments at several meetings and even publicly blamed each other in the media.
Saif not only dealt a political blow to Mutassim, but also tried to influence Mutassim's reputation through public opinion.
In 2009, the Libya newspaper Oea ran a story describing Mutassim as a traitor to the state.
The report drew widespread attention in the country, with Mutassim's supporters expressing outrage, but that did not stop Saif from continuing his attacks on him.
The rivalry between the two brothers gradually turned into an open war in Libya politics.
Despite the resistance he faced, Mutassim persisted in advancing his military plans.
Only with strong military strength can we remain invincible in a volatile political environment. Mutassim's special forces have improved in training and equipment, and have gradually become an important force in the Libya army.
However, this military success did not ease the tension between him and Saif at all.
Saif pushed forward with his reform agenda, trying to weaken Mutassim's influence through political means. He actively engaged with Western countries, hoping to win more international support for Libya through diplomatic channels.
Saif believes that only through reform and opening up can Libya achieve true modernization and stability.
In Mutasim's view, his actions are tantamount to a threat to the country's sovereignty and security.
In order to consolidate his position, Mutassim not only laid out his military layout, but also began to get involved in foreign affairs.
As early as 2006, when United States restored diplomatic relations with Libya, Gaddafi handed over the responsibility of diplomacy with the United States to Mutassim.
In 2009, Mutassim traveled to the United States for diplomatic talks and met with then-Secretary of State Hillary · Clinton. During the talks, Mutassim demonstrated excellent negotiation skills and successfully secured important military aid for Libya.
The success of the talks further strengthened Mutassim's reputation at home and abroad, and made Saif even more politically isolated.
Saif has rallied a group of supporters at home, and this force has set off a wave of opposition to Mutassim in the country, trying to weaken his power by various means.
Mutassim faces both domestic and foreign pressures to deal with Saf's political offensive on the one hand, and to maintain the stability and development of the special forces on the other.
The struggle between Mutassim and Saif intensified.
Mutassim's special forces have a growing influence in the country, but so do Saif al-Saf's political supporters. The two brothers started a life-and-death contest in their respective camps.
Mutassim maintained a relative advantage in this struggle. Through his constant military and diplomatic efforts, he consolidated his position and won widespread support at home and abroad.
Civil war broke out
In 2011, the civil war broke out in Libya, and the conflict between the domestic opposition and Gaddafi's government quickly escalated into a full-scale war.
As the number two man in the military, Mutassim did not hesitate to step onto the battlefield and take on the heavy responsibility of commanding the operation. At the same time, Saif quickly took a stand, sympathizing with and supporting the opposition, and the two brothers parted ways again.
Mutasim was appointed by Gaddafi as the commander-in-chief of the Brega region, responsible for the military defense and operational command of the area.
Brega is an important oil-producing region in Libya, and its strategic location is extremely important, and if it is lost, it will deal a fatal blow to the Gaddafi regime.
In the Battle of Brega, Mutassim demonstrated great military talent. His troops engaged in fierce exchanges of fire with the opposition, and through carefully planned defensive tactics, they successfully thwarted several opposition attacks.
The victory temporarily stabilized the tide of the war and bought some respite for the Gaddafi regime.
The war continues, and the international community is putting increasing pressure on the Gaddafi regime. The United States, Britain, France and other Western countries have provided strong support to the opposition, including military aid and air raid support. This led to a rapid increase in the strength of the opposition, and the tide of the war became increasingly unfavorable for the Gaddafi government.
Mutassim must delay the battle line as much as possible and protect strategic points in the face of the disparity between the forces of the enemy and the enemy.
Despite the stubborn resistance of Mutassim and his troops, the situation in the Battle of Brega gradually deteriorated with strong international intervention.
Under the dual pressure of air strikes and ground offensives, the opposition constantly encroached on the defensive lines of Gaddafi's army. In order to avoid total annihilation, Mutassim was forced to order the troops to gradually retreat, move to more favorable defensive positions, and continue the resistance battle.
Mutassim's conducting skills and agility bought valuable time.
Saif quickly engaged with the opposition in the early years of the civil war, making public statements calling for political reform and negotiations with the opposition. His attitude gave the opposition a certain favorability to him, but it also caused discontent among the Gaddafi family and supporters.
Saif wanted to resolve the crisis through political means, but the situation developed far beyond his expectations. The flames of civil war could no longer be extinguished through negotiations, and the conflict between the two sides inevitably escalated.
As the war worsened, Libya's capital, Tripoli, plunged into chaos.
The opposition, with the support of Western countries, launched a fierce offensive against Tripoli. Gaddafi and Mutassim had to retreat to their hometown of Sirte for their last resistance.
Sirte, Gaddafi's hometown, was also the last strategic bastion. Here Mutassim has gathered all the forces he can muster and is ready for a desperate fight.
The ferocious offensive of the opposition, coupled with the air strikes of Western countries, put great pressure on the resistance.
Despite the best efforts of Mutassim and his troops, the defensive line was gradually broken through in the face of the disparity between the forces of the enemy and the enemy. In the final stages of the war, the United States government issued a warrant for Mutassim and froze all his assets overseas.
The opposition has launched a full-scale manhunt for Mutassim, and his situation is becoming more and more difficult.
Mutassim still did not choose to escape. He continued to command the battle, defending his hometown to the death until the last moment.
Mutasim's final moments
In October 2011, the fighting in Sirte came to an end. The opposition, with the support of Western countries, finally broke through the last line of defense of Gaddafi's army.
On October 25, 2011, shortly after Gaddafi's arrest, the Libya Revolutionary Council released video footage of Mutasim's arrest.
In the video, Mutassim is covered in blood and captured by a group of young men who look to be in their early twenties, and the caretaker hands him a bottle of mineral water: "We're going to do some surgery on you next." ”
Mutasim took the mineral water and gulped down the liquid, the only resistance he could make at this moment.
After Mutassim was arrested, he was brutally interrogated and tortured by the opposition.
From the video footage of the arrest, it can be seen that he has multiple wounds on his body, and the wounds on his throat and abdomen are particularly shocking.
The rebels surrounded Mutassim, their eyes full of contempt and triumphant joy. They witnessed how a once powerful figure had fallen to such a point, and there was a bit of sarcasm in their words.
In the face of these taunts, Mutassim looked directly at the mocking rebels and shot back: "Every wound of mine is a medal of honor, your taunts are a sign of cowardice, you should do something else." ”
When Mutassim fell, he was shot in the neck and chest, and blood stained his clothes and floor. This tragic scene can be clearly seen in his last photographs.
At the last moment of his life, he still held the bottle of mineral water and a cigarette in his hand, and his attitude towards death was extremely indifferent.
Within days of Mutassim's arrest, the situation in Libya changed rapidly.
The opposition, with the support of Western countries, quickly took over the power vacuum left by the Gaddafi regime. A new government was announced, and Libya entered a new political era.
Mutasim's brother Saif also did not escape, having been captured by the opposition in southern Libya and trying to flee to neighboring Niger.
After his arrest, Saif was also subjected to harsh interrogation and torture, and his arm was injured in a NATO airstrike, making him look extremely embarrassed.
The bodies of Mutasim and Gaddafi were humiliated by the opposition after their arrest and eventually buried in secret. The place of burial is still unknown.
Despite the courage of Mutassim's death, which persevered until the last moment of his life in the fight to defend the country's sovereignty, his death did not change the fate of Libya.
After the new government came to power, the situation in Libya remained volatile. Despite the fact that the Gaddafi regime is history, the struggle between the various factions in the country has not stopped.
Divisions within the opposition are becoming apparent, and fierce clashes continue to be waged by various armed forces for power and resources.
After the fall of the Gaddafi regime, the biggest problem facing Libya was how to achieve national reconciliation and rebuild the country.
More needs to be done to rebuild and stabilize Libya. The Libya people yearn for peace and stability and hope that through their efforts, they can shake off the shadow of war and usher in new opportunities for development.
Resources:
1. Gaddafi's son Mutasim's photos were exposed before his death, and he was shot and killed after being captured alive Global Network 2011-10-22
2. Gaddafi and his son Mutasim are suspected of being deliberately killed or buried at sea, Nanfang Daily, October 23, 2011
3. The photos of Gaddafi's fourth son before his death were exposed, and he was shot and killed after being captured alive China Review News Agency 2011-10-22