On 9 June, the US Army announced that from 19 to 22 May 2026, US Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), reached a significant diplomatic and military milestone by leading a four-day military-to-military (M2M) subject matter expert exchange in Benghazi.
Executed by the Civil Affairs Team Libya, which is assigned to Bravo Company of SETAF-AF’s Civil Affairs Battalion, the engagement marked the first time a conventional US Army element has established a presence in Libya in 16 years.
The primary objective of the initiative is to build a cooperative framework that brings Libya’s two competing military factions, the Libyan National Army (LNA) and the Government of National Unity’s (GNU) Libyan Army, together to support the country’s long-term unification. According to US Army Major Miles Dunning, the team leader and company commander, the ultimate goal is to facilitate an environment where both entities can engage in face-to-face dialogue, coordinate on counterterrorism strategies, and eventually integrate into a unified national armed force.
The exchange brought together 21 military officers from both the LNA and Libyan Army, with ranks ranging from captain to colonel. US organizers noted that the interactions between the two Libyan factions were highly cordial, with both parties demonstrating an interest in mutual cooperation and lasting regional stability. During the event, the US Civil Affairs team shared insights into US Army combined arms operations, detailing core warfighting functions, explained staff functions, the Military Decision-Making Process, troop leading procedures, and operational orders. The engagement concluded with a joint tabletop exercise involving a fictional road-clearance scenario, forcing representatives from both Libyan forces to collaborate and plan an operational mission together.
Moving forward, SETAF-AF plans to hold these M2M knowledge exchanges on a monthly basis through the end of the fiscal year. US military officials anticipate that these recurring meetings will continue to build vital rapport, improve operational understanding between the U.S. and Libyan forces, and strengthen lines of communication between the LNA and the GNU.