On 5 September, the newly-appointed Chief of Staff of the Libyan National Army (LNA) Khaled Haftar visited Moscow for the second time in a week, meeting Russian Defence Minister Andrey Belousov. According to the Russian Defence Ministry, they discussed bilateral defence ties and regional developments. The discussions centred on prospects for cooperation in training, qualification, and development, alongside an exchange of views on the latest regional and international developments. Belousov congratulated Khaled Haftar on his recent promotion, calling it ‘recognition of your significant contribution to strengthening the country’s defense capability.’ He also sent greetings to Khaled’s brother, Saddam Haftar, recently appointed LNA deputy commander, and conveyed best wishes to the force’s commander, Marshal Khalifa Haftar.
