UNSMIL: Sirte meeting advances military unification efforts

The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) welcomed the technical military meeting hosted in the city of Sirte on Sunday, describing it as a new step that reflects the commitment of Libyan military leaders to continue efforts toward unifying the country’s military institution and strengthening confidence-building measures.

In a statement published on its Facebook page, the mission said the meeting builds on a series of previous engagements and marks an important milestone in the military unification process. It praised the positive atmosphere and the efforts made by the participants, while reaffirming its commitment to supporting this Libyan-led and Libyan-owned process through continued facilitation and coordination with international partners.

The meeting in Sirte brought together Salah 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 sides, and Stephanie Koury, Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Political Affairs.

The General Staff Headquarters in Tripoli had earlier announced that the meeting resulted in an agreement to organize a joint military field exercise involving members of the Libyan army in one of the southern regions. The participants also agreed to allow the heads of the military branches to hold monthly meetings with their respective departments to strengthen coordination and improve institutional performance.

The General Staff added that participants discussed mechanisms to support military personnel, follow up on their administrative and financial entitlements, and address challenges that may hinder their performance. They also stressed that unifying the military institution remains the best option for protecting the country, safeguarding its borders, and consolidating stability.