Historic meeting in Sirte.. Libyan army chiefs agree on unifying military institution

Sirte meeting: First inside-Libya meeting between Khalifa Haftar and Salah al-Din al-Namroush results in agreement on unified exercises and regular meetings, amid UN and US support for unification efforts

Libyan army chiefs, Lieutenant General Khalifa Haftar and Lieutenant General Salah al-Din al-Namroush, announced an agreement to unify the military institution during a meeting held in Sirte, the first of its kind inside Libya between the two men, attended by UN Deputy Special Representative Stephanie Khoury, members of the Joint Military Commission (5+5) and the (3+3) Committee, with Haftar stressing the need for the army to stay away from political disputes and adhere to its national role.

Sirte meeting: Unifying military institution a choice to protect Libya

The media office of the General Staff of the Army reported that the meeting in Sirte resulted in an agreement to organize a unified field exercise with the participation of Libyan army personnel in one of the southern regions, aimed at enhancing readiness and consolidating cooperation between various military units.

The attendees also discussed mechanisms to support military institution personnel, enhance their capabilities, and follow up on their administrative and financial rights, in addition to authorizing branch chiefs of staff to hold monthly meetings with their departments to strengthen coordination and develop institutional performance.

Haftar: Army must stay away from political disputes

Chief of the General Staff of the Libyan Arab Armed Forces, Lieutenant General Khalifa Haftar, stressed the need for the military institution to stay away from political disputes and adhere to its national role in serving Libyans and the homeland.

Haftar praised the steps achieved by the Joint Military Commission (5+5), commending the efforts of the (3+3) Committee, and expressed appreciation for the US Africa Command (AFRICOM) for its support of meetings and coordination between various parties.

Haftar conveyed the greetings of the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, who affirmed his support for all efforts aimed at unifying the military institution in a way that serves Libya’s security, stability, and territorial unity.

Al-Namroush: Unification is the choice to protect the country

For his part, Chief of Staff of the Army in western Libya, Lieutenant General Salah al-Din al-Namroush, said during the meeting that unifying the military institution is the choice to protect the country and its stability.

Al-Namroush stressed that the meeting came within the framework of local and international efforts to end division and unify the Libyan military institution.

UN and US support for the unification path

The Libyan Presidential Council welcomed the convening of the Sirte meeting, considering it an important step to advance the path of unifying the military institution.

Deputy Supreme Commander of the Libyan Arab Armed Forces, Saddam Haftar, also praised the atmosphere of the meeting, affirming continued work to complete the unification of the army, and commending the support of the United States, represented by US Africa Command (AFRICOM), and the UN Support Mission in Libya for this path.

The Sirte meeting is the first to be held inside Libya between the two chiefs of staff, Khalifa Haftar and Salah al-Din al-Namroush, following a series of external meetings, within the framework of local and international efforts aimed at ending division and unifying the military institution.

ترحب بعثة الأمم المتحدة للدعم في ليبيا بالاجتماع العسكري الفني الذي عُقد اليوم في سرت، بحضور رئيسي الأركان العامة، واللجنة العسكرية المشتركة 5+5، فضلاً عن اللجنة المشتركة 3+3.

واستكمالاً للاجتماعات السابقة، يعدّ اجتماع اليوم، الذي حضره وفدًا من بعثة الأمم المتحدة برئاسة نائبة… pic.twitter.com/Y9M0njjvaZ

— UNSMIL (@UNSMILibya) July 12, 2026

Read also:

Libya regains control of Ras Lanuf refinery after dispute with UAE company lasting over a decade