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Libya Review
4 days ago
- Politics
- Libya Review
Saddam Haftar Meets Egyptian Army Chief to Boost Joint Security Plans
On Tuesday, Libya's Ground Forces Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Saddam Khalifa Haftar, held high-level talks in Cairo with Egypt's Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, Lieutenant General Ahmed Khalifa, as part of a coordinated effort to improve joint security, enhance border control, and combat irregular migration across the Libyan-Egyptian frontier. The meeting took place at Egypt's Ministry of Defense, where General Haftar and his delegation received a formal welcome that included military honors and the national anthems of both countries. According to a statement from the Egyptian Armed Forces, the dialogue focused on 'aligning strategic visions and strengthening joint efforts to secure the shared border and address irregular migration.' Both sides emphasized the urgent need to develop practical security frameworks that would help stabilize Libya's border regions, reduce smuggling and trafficking activity, and promote greater regional coordination. With parts of Libya's territory still facing security vulnerabilities, especially near border crossings, the talks underscored the importance of cooperation between the Libyan National Army and its Egyptian counterparts. Lieutenant General Saddam Haftar praised Egypt's continuous support for Libya's security and unity. He acknowledged Cairo's regional role in promoting peace and expressed a strong interest in expanding bilateral military collaboration to better equip Libyan forces in maintaining national stability. For his part, Lieutenant General Khalifa reaffirmed Egypt's commitment to supporting Libya's sovereignty and its armed forces. He stressed the depth of the historic ties between the two nations and highlighted Egypt's ongoing efforts to help Libya restore full control over its territory through coordinated defense strategies. This meeting comes amid growing concerns over the rise in irregular migration and cross-border smuggling networks. Both nations recognize the need for a more structured approach to security cooperation, including intelligence sharing, border surveillance, and joint training initiatives. Tags: Border SecurityEgyptlibyaSaddam Haftar
Libya Review
6 days ago
- Politics
- Libya Review
Libya's Haftar & British Envoy Discuss Political Developments
The Commander-in-Chief of the Libyan National Army (LNA), Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, held talks on Sunday with the British Ambassador to Libya, Martin Longden, at the General Command headquarters in Rajma, Benghazi. According to a statement by the LNA's media office, the meeting focused on the latest political developments in Libya and the wider region. Discussions also touched on bilateral relations between Libya and the United Kingdom, with both parties exploring ways to enhance cooperation in areas of mutual interest. The meeting marks a continuation of ongoing diplomatic engagements between the UK and the eastern-based Libyan authorities. While no specific agreements were announced, the talks underscored both countries' willingness to strengthen ties, particularly in light of Libya's complex political landscape and efforts to stabilise the country. Ambassador Longden's visit follows a series of meetings with various Libyan stakeholders aimed at supporting inclusive dialogue, promoting regional stability, and addressing issues such as security cooperation, migration, and economic development. Field Marshal Haftar, a central figure in eastern Libya's military and political hierarchy, has previously engaged with international envoys on matters relating to counter-terrorism, border control, and Libya's reconstruction process. The UK, like other international actors, maintains a policy of engaging with all relevant Libyan factions in a bid to support a unified political process under UN auspices. However, cooperation with the eastern command structure remains a point of strategic importance given its control over vast territories and its influence on Libya's broader security dynamics. Tags: khalifa haftarlibyaLibyan armyLNAMartin Longden
Libya Review
17-06-2025
- Health
- Libya Review
Libyan Army Sends Wounded Soldiers to Russia for Treatment
A new group of wounded soldiers from the Libyan National Army (LNA) departed Libya on Monday, heading to the Russian Federation to receive medical treatment. According to the LNA's Military Media Division, this move follows direct orders from the Commander-in-Chief of the Libyan National Army, Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar. The mission was coordinated and overseen by the Chief of Staff of the Ground Forces, Lieutenant General Saddam Haftar. The statement highlighted that the transfer is part of a continuous medical care program, aimed at providing critical care for severely injured soldiers. Several batches of wounded troops are being sent to allied countries under this initiative, with Russia being one of the key destinations. The LNA emphasized that the program reflects the General Command's commitment to ensuring top-tier medical treatment for its injured personnel, in recognition of their sacrifices for the nation's security and sovereignty. This latest transfer reinforces the strategic military and humanitarian ties between Libya and Russia, amid ongoing efforts to rehabilitate those wounded in the country's long-running conflict. Follow us for more updates on Libya's military and international cooperation efforts. Libya has been in chaos since a NATO-backed uprising toppled longtime leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. The county has for years been split between rival administrations. Libya's economy, heavily reliant on oil, has suffered due to the ongoing conflict. The instability has led to fluctuations in oil production and prices, impacting the global oil market and Libya's economy. The conflict has led to a significant humanitarian crisis in Libya, with thousands of people killed, and many more displaced. Migrants and refugees using Libya as a transit point to Europe have also faced dire conditions. The planned elections for December 2021 were delayed due to disagreements over election laws and the eligibility of certain candidates. This delay has raised concerns about the feasibility of a peaceful political transition. Despite the ceasefire, security remains a significant concern with sporadic fighting and the presence of mercenaries and foreign fighters. The unification of the military and the removal of foreign forces are crucial challenges. Tags: khalifa haftarLibyan armyLNARussia
Libya Review
16-06-2025
- Politics
- Libya Review
Ageela Saleh Discusses Libya's Political Future with Greek Ambassador
On Monday, the Speaker of the Libyan House of Representatives, Ageela Saleh, met with Greek Ambassador to Libya Nikolaos Garilidis to discuss recent developments and potential solutions to the country's prolonged political crisis. The meeting was held in the city of Qubbah and included the presence of Greek Consul General Agapios Kalognomis and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdelhadi Al-Hwaij, representing the eastern-based government. The talks focused on the path toward resolving Libya's institutional deadlock through the formation of a unified national government and holding presidential and parliamentary elections. According to Saleh's media office, the discussion emphasized the need for a single executive authority capable of overseeing the electoral process throughout the country. The meeting comes ahead of a planned visit to Libya by Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis at the end of June. According to Greek newspaper Kathimerini, Gerapetritis is expected to meet with Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbaiba in Tripoli, Speaker Ageela Saleh in the east, and the commander of the Libyan National Army (LNA), Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar. Athens is closely watching the shifting dynamics in eastern Libya, particularly regarding maritime agreements. Greece is concerned that the eastern authorities, led by Haftar and aligned with Saleh, may be open to negotiating a maritime border agreement with Turkey. The newspaper reported that Haftar appears more receptive to such talks as Turkey intensifies its outreach in the region. On June 2, Libya's House of Representatives formed a technical committee to examine the maritime agreement proposal submitted by the eastern-based government under Prime Minister Osama Hammad. The move comes amid growing coordination between eastern Libyan officials and Turkish authorities. In April, General Saddam Haftar, Chief of Staff of Libya's ground forces, traveled to Ankara and met with Turkish Defense Minister Yaşar Güler. In May, Libyan National Army units took part in joint military exercises with Turkish forces, a development seen by Greece as a potential threat to its maritime interests. Tags: Greek AmbassadorlibyaParliament SpeakerPolitical TransitionTurkey
Mada
16-06-2025
- Politics
- Mada
Sumud caravan to Gaza suspends operations after Cairo, LNA block movement
After days of intimidation by eastern Libyan authorities and the arrest of at least 13 participants, the Sumud caravan, which had set off from Tunisia last week in an attempt to break the siege in Gaza, announced Monday that it would forego the remainder of its journey, organizers told Mada Masr. 'We were supposed to reach the Rafah border crossing today, but that didn't happen because the authorities in eastern Libya refused to allow us to pass. They made it conditional on getting official approval from the Egyptian authorities — approval that Egypt never gave. The Libyan side told us: If you don't get a permit from Egypt, we can't allow you to proceed toward the border,' an organizer of the caravan said. An eastern Libyan government official, an Egyptian official and an Egyptian researcher close to sovereign bodies in Cairo said that Cairo requested authorities in eastern Libya block the delegation from continuing through Libya. Egypt, the eastern Libyan government official told Mada Masr, was keen to avoid potential embarrassment amid growing pressure to allow the activists to reach Rafah and push for aid delivery and an end to the siege on food and medicine in Gaza. The caravan, dubbed the Sumud Delegation, left Tunisia last week with around 14 buses and 100 vehicles. Even though the 1,500 people — whose numbers would swell as more people from Tunisia, Libya, Algeria and Sudan joined their ranks — were not carrying aid, organizers presented the delegation as a 'symbolic act.' Their departure from Tunisia into western Libya at the beginning of last week went smoothly at first, a member of the caravan told Mada Masr. 'As we moved from city to city, people went out to greet us in the streets, waving Palestinian flags, sprinkling rose water on our vehicles, ululating with joy. It was a spontaneous, genuine scene. In every city we stopped, there was food waiting, sweets, invitations to stay the night and offers to help,' the member said. But all of that came to a halt on Thursday evening, when the caravan reached the outskirts of the city of Sirte, the effective dividing line between east and west Libya, which is governed respectively by the Libyan National Army under Khalifa Haftar and the Tripoli-based Government of National Unity. 'It felt like we had fallen into a void,' a second member of the caravan told Mada Masr, describing arriving at the entrance to the city. 'We thought we were simply moving between Libyan cities, but, at that moment, it felt like we had crossed into a different country.' Over the next several days, the caravan faced intimidation from eastern authorities under the sway of Libyan National Army commander Khalifa Haftar. Plainclothes security officers infiltrated the caravan, one participant said, 'sitting near our tents, watching our movement, asking questions about everything.' Eastern authorities split the group into three separate convoys. They then imposed a total communications blackout and prevented movement and access to supplies, confining participants in a state of both security isolation and humanitarian chaos. Those who left were not allowed to rejoin the main group, which remained stranded for three days awaiting permission to continue east toward the Egyptian border. 'At night, in the thick darkness, there was no electricity, no toilets, barely enough water — only the dim light of phone screens,' the first participant said. 'Even aid deliveries were barred until the second night, only allowed in after interventions by the Red Crescent and donors from Misrata. The aid was meticulously searched by the same men in plain clothes, scattered among us.' In the ensuing days, a number of participants were arrested, including activist and blogger Abdel Razzaq Hammad. The Libyan National Human Rights Commission called on eastern authorities to release those detained, holding relevant authorities fully responsible for their safety and fate. The two participants described personal belongings being stolen, participants being searched or detained without legal warrants, and the assault on the convoy's spokesperson, who was beaten and dragged away wrapped in a blanket, only to be released after an officer intervened. By Saturday morning, the caravan decided to retreat from Sirte, heading back to the west, 200 kilometers outside Misrata. There, organizers tried to negotiate with eastern authorities and find alternatives. 'Our hearts are broken. We can no longer bear the images coming out of Gaza. If no one else will move, then let us. Don't stop us from trying to stop the genocide of women and children, to stop lives being taken away while we stand helpless,' the first participant said at the time. The situation escalated after pro-eastern Libya figures and media outlets circulated video clips of a supposed participant saying that 'Sirte was part of the organization' and began smearing the convoy as co-opted by the Muslim Brotherhood. According to an eastern government official, however, the decision to block the convoy's progress was not down to any offense or suspicion of Islamist activity. Instead, Egyptian officials had communicated with authorities in eastern Libya, urging them not to permit the convoy through due to lack of permits and approvals, and to spare Egypt embarrassment, according to the Libyan source. A source at a research center affiliated with sovereign bodies in Egypt and an Egyptian official acknowledged the pressure from Cairo. 'When the caravan was coming closer to the Egyptian western borders, the state requested the Libyan authorities intervene to avoid a border situation,' the Egyptian official said. Egypt has in recent days arrested and intimidated international activists who converged in Cairo to partake in the Global March to Gaza. The march organizers directed all participants to leave Egypt on Monday and suspended plans to head to Rafah. In its announcement of the end of the convoy, the organizers of the Sumud Delegation said that 13 participants continued to be held in custody and called for their immediate release.
