Eastern and Western Chiefs of Staff agree to hold joint military exercise in Southern Libya

The Chief of the General Staff under the Government of National Unity, Salah Al-Namroush, and the Chief of Staff affiliated with Haftar’s forces, Khaled Haftar, agreed during a meeting in Sirte on Sunday, attended by senior military commanders from both sides, to organize a joint field military exercise involving members of the Libyan army in one of the country’s southern regions.

The meeting in Sirte included Al-Namroush, Khaled Haftar, members of the Joint Military Commission (5+5), members of the Joint Military Committee (3+3), several military commanders from both Eastern and Western Libya, and the Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Stephanie Koury.

According to the General Staff Presidency in Tripoli, the participants discussed several priority issues and reaffirmed that unifying the military institution remains the only viable option for protecting the country, securing its borders, and strengthening stability. They also agreed to conduct a joint field exercise involving Libyan army personnel in a southern region to enhance operational readiness and reinforce cooperation among military units.

The General Staff Presidency said in a Facebook statement that the meeting also addressed mechanisms to support military personnel, improve their capabilities, safeguard their administrative and financial rights, and resolve obstacles affecting their performance. In addition, participants authorized the chiefs of the service branches to hold monthly meetings with their respective departments to improve institutional performance, strengthen coordination, and promote joint action.

In a separate statement, the Presidential Council welcomed the meeting between military leaders from eastern and western Libya in Sirte, describing it as an important step that reflects continued national efforts to strengthen military dialogue and build on the understandings and mutual trust achieved so far, thereby advancing the process of unifying Libya’s military institution.

Before the Presidential Council’s statement was issued, Saddam Haftar also welcomed the meeting, saying that unifying the military institution on national and professional foundations is a fundamental objective for protecting the country and safeguarding its sovereignty. He pledged to continue working “with seriousness and responsibility” to build strong and effective institutions, protect Libya’s territory and borders, reinforce national unity, and achieve a unified Libyan army capable of fulfilling its duty to defend the nation and its citizens.

The meeting between Khaled Haftar and Salah Al-Namroush in Sirte followed an agreement reached during their first meeting in Luanda, Angola, while attending the African Chiefs of Defense Conference, which was hosted by AFRICOM from June 30 to July 2.