On 7 March, Saddam Haftar, Commander of the Libyan National Army's (LNA) Ground Forces (and son of Khalifa Haftar), was awarded a doctorate (PhD) in...
International actors
Our archive of international activity in Libya’s security space including military operations, the presence of foreign operatives and diplomacy pertaining to Libya’s security.
EU support for Libyan Coast Guard back under fire as NGO says crew was attacked
On 2 March, the German NGO SOS Humanity said the crew of its search and rescue vessel Humanity 1 was threatened several times by the Libyan Coast...
Dabaiba signs another military MoU with Turkey in Antalya
On 1 March, Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dabaiba arrived in Antalya, Turkey, where he attended the Antalya Diplomatic Forum at the invitation of...
US defence attache holds talks with western region military leaders
On 1 March, the US Embassy to Libya said that the US Defense Attache and his accompanying delegation had held ‘productive discussions’ with Chief of...
Dabaiba meets Hemedti in Tripoli as he continues mediation in Sudan conflict
On 29 February, Prime Minister Abdul Hameed Dabaiba received the commander of the (Sudanese) Rapid Support Forces (RSF) Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo aka...
Dabaiba and Menfi welcome Sudanese leader Burhan to Tripoli
On 26 February, Government of National Unity (GNU) Prime Minister Abdul Hameed Dabaiba welcomed Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the de facto ruler of Sudan...
US Chargé d’Affairs meets with senior LNA representatives
On 22 February, the Chargé d'Affairs of the US Embassy, Jeremy Berndt met with senior representatives of the Libyan National Army (LNA) in al-Rajma....
Biden extends Libya ‘national emergency’ for another year
On 21 February, the US President Joe Biden extended the ‘national emergency’ declared in Libya for another year from 25 February 2024. The national...
Italy investigates Libyan human smugglers
On 18 February, the Italian newspaper Avvenire reported that there is an investigation underway in Italy against two key Libyan human smugglers –...
Italian court rules that sending migrants back to Libya is unlawful
On 18 February, the ruling (made on 1 February) of Italy’s top appeals court, the Court of Cassation, that sending migrants rescued at sea back to...
Amnesty accuses ISA of abuses and crackdown on personal freedoms
On 14 February, Amnesty International issued a statement accusing the Tripoli-based Internal Security Agency (ISA) of ‘an intensified crackdown on...
US reaffirms to LNA commitment to engage with Libyan military officials
On 8 February, the US Embassy to Libya’s Defence Attache Office met with the Libyan National Army (LNA) commander’s office director and chiefs of...
EU delegation discusses migration with Tripoli authorities
On 8 February, a European Union delegation completed a visit to Libya to discuss all aspects of migration, with special focus on: combating...
Dabaiba participates in Ministers of Defense conference in Riyadh
On 3 February, Government of National Unity (GNU) Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Abdul Hameed Dabaiba participated in the second meeting of...
Bathily urges western security actors to maintain peace and stability
On 28 January, UN envoy Abdoulaye Bathily met in Tripoli with more than 20 western security actors and representatives of armed formations. Bathily...
Haftar welcomes Russian Deputy Minister of Defence in Benghazi
On 28 January, the Russian Deputy Minister of Defence (MoD) Yunus-bek Yevkurov once again arrived in Benghazi - where he was warmly welcomed - for...
US delegation meets with Haftar and western security officials
On 23 January, a US delegation comprising US Special Envoy to Libya Richard Norland, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the US State Department Bureau of...
Sudanese air force strikes targets close to Libyan border
On 17 January, Sudanese media reported a series of intense airstrikes in North Darfur, ‘near the border with Libya’. The Sudanese Air Force struck...
UN PoE report highlights Sudan smuggling via Kufra
The UN Panel of Experts report on the Sudan (submitted to the UN Security Council on 13 January 2024) cited members of southern Libyan communities...
UNSMIL facilitates security reform workshop
On 9 and 10 January, UNSMIL facilitated a workshop of members from the House of Representatives and High Council of State with military, security,...
Chadian rebel group UFDD returns to Chad from southern Libya
On 2 January, at least 900 rebels from the Chadian ‘Union of Forces for Democracy and Development’ (Union des forces pour la démocratie et le...
UNSMIL confirms Barghathi’s death in LNA custody
On 21 December, UNSMIL confirmed in a statement the death of former Government of National Accord (GNA) Minister of Defense Mahdi al-Barghathi and...
US meets with key actors to push for Bathily’s initiative
The US has held a flurry of meetings with key actors as part of the push for Bathily’s latest initiative to reach fruition. On 20 and 21 December,...
Drone strike destroys Russian transport aircraft at al-Jufra airbase
On 15 December, it became known that a civilian Ilyushin Il-76 transport aircraft, which was presumably operating on behalf of the Russian Wagner...
UN and EU call for accountability on human rights
On 10 December, to mark the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the United Nations Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) called for...
HRW calls for independent inquiry into Derna flooding
On 6 December, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said that an independent inquiry is needed to review failings in Libyan authorities’ management of...
IRINI commander says operation is a success
On 5 December, Italian Rear Admiral Stefano Turchetto, currently EU Operation Commander of Operation EUNAVFOR MED IRINI, praised the support given...
Russian Deputy MoD visits Haftar in Benghazi
On 2 December, Libyan National Army (LNA) commander Khalifa Haftar received the Russian Deputy Defence Minister Yunusbek Yevkurov in Benghazi (on...
GNU sends Hamas prisoners to Turkey
On 1 December, the Government of National Union (GNU) released four members of Hamas - Marwan al-Ashqar, Nasib Shabir, Muayyad Abed, and Baraa...
Turkey extends troop mandate in Libya
On 30 November, the Turkish parliament approved the presidential motion extending the Turkish army’s mandate in Libya for an additional 24 months,...
Trabelsi discusses migration with EU in Brussels visit
On 28 November, the Government of National Unity (GNU) Minister of Interior Emad Trabelsi participated in the International Conference on a Global...
Libyan MoI joins Rome meeting on illegal migration
On 25 November, a meeting of the ministers of interior (MoI) of Italy, Libya, and Tunisia place in Rome on the topic of combating illegal migration,...
Erdogan seeks extension of Turkish troops’ mandate in Libya
On 24 November, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan submitted a request to the Turkish parliament to extend the mandate of Turkish troops in...
GNU and Europeans discuss labour migration and cross-border crime
On 16 November, IOM Libya co-hosted a roundtable on Labour Migration Governance with the Government of National Unity (GNU) Ministry of Labour and...
Port authorities turn away vessels with previous Israel stops
On 12 November, port authorities at Mellitah port reportedly prevented the Proteus Philippa oil tanker from entering port and loading 600,000...
ICC plans to wrap up Libya investigations by end of 2025
On 8 November, International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor Karim A. A. Khan KC provided remarks coinciding with the delivery of his Report to the...
5+5 JMC and DDR Working Group meetings held in Tunis
On 7 November, under the chairmanship of UN Envoy Abdoulaye Bathily, a meeting of the 5+5 JMC (Joint Military Committee) started in Tunis together...
Haftar and Putin reportedly pursuing defence deal
On 5 November, Bloomberg reported that a defence deal is being ‘hammered out’ between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Libyan National Army...
Wagner forces on alert as GNU forces mobilise south of Ghariyan
On 31 October, there were reports that Wagner fighters stationed at Brak al-Shatti airbase, around 300km south of al-Shuwayrif, were on high alert...
HoR and HSC demand oil export ban and departure of ambassadors over Israel support
On 25 October, the House of Representatives (HoR) demanded the immediate departure of the ambassadors of countries supporting Israel in the Gaza...
Libyans protest against Israel across country in wake of Gaza hospital attack
Following the attack on the al-Ahli hospital in Gaza on 18 October, there was an uptick in anti-Israeli anger and protests in Libya. On the...
US embassy warns citizens to stay away from anti-Israel protests
On 18 October, the U.S. Embassy warned all US citizens in Libya of further demonstrations in Libya over the Gaza conflict. They stated, ‘We...
Trabelsi meets with Algerian counterpart in Algiers visit
On 16 October, Minister of Interior Emad Trabelsi, traveled to Algiers to talk with Algerian Minister of the Interior, Local Governments and Urban...
Menfi stresses support for Palestinians and need to protect civilians in Gaza
On 12 October, Presidential Council Chair Muhammed al-Menfi received the Charge d'Affaires of the Palestinian Embassy, Muhammed Rahal. Menfi...
Dabaiba assures Abbas of Libyan support to Palestine
On 10 October, Prime Minister Abdul Hameed Dabaiba spoke on the phone with President of Palestine Mahmoud Abbas and assured him of Libyan support in...
Hundreds protest in Tripoli in solidarity with Palestine
On 10 October, a demonstration of several hundred people in support of the Palestinians or Hamas took place in Tripoli. Some participants raised the...
EUBAM and GNU sign MoU on joint cooperation
On 9 October, the head of the EU Border Assistance Mission (EUBAM) Libya Mission Natalina Cea and the Head of EU Affairs Department of the...
UK and GNU agree on technical cooperation protocol
On 9 October, the Government of National Unity (GNU) Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Abdul Hameed Dabaiba met with the British Minister of...
Libyan actors condemn Israeli authorities over violence in Israel and Gaza
Libya’s political leaders have all issued statements about the unfolding violence in Israel and Palestine. On 7 October, Government of National...
Dabaiba suspends Libyan ambassador to Belgium over embezzelment claims
On 30 September, the Belgian newspaper le Soir published an investigation in which it claims the Libyan ambassador to Belgium, Amel Jerari, is...
Putin receive Haftar in Moscow, offers more military support to LNA
On 28 September, Libyan National Army (LNA) Commander Khalifa Hafta was received by Russian President Vladimir Putin in the presence of Russian...
US State departments warns of Russia’s ‘destabilizing’ effect
On 28 September, US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller, referring to Libya, said that they urge any country in the world that engages with...
Amnesty warns of LNA crackdown on journalists covering Derna
On 21 September, Amnesty International called for the Libyan National Army (LNA) to ‘immediately lift all undue restrictions imposed on media and...
Norland and AFRICOM commander visit Tripoli, discuss US support for Derna disaster efforts
On 20 September, Commander of US Africa Command (AFRICOM) General Michael Langley visited Tripoli together with US Special Envoy Richard Norland and...
Haftar meets American and Italian military commanders
On 20 September, General Gennaro Vecchione, former commander of Italy's Guardia di Finanza and former coordinator of Italy's intelligence services,...
LNA cracks down on access for journalists and aid teams to disaster-hit Derna
On 19 September, all communications including internet and phone calls with Derna were down due an optical fibre cable being cut – though reports...
Haftar accompanies Russia’s deputy defence minister on humanitarian visit to Derna
On 17 September, Khaled Haftar, the son of Libyan National Army (LNA) commander Khalifa Haftar, and who now heads the east’s Supreme Security...
International aid pours in as rescue teams arrive in Libya following catastrophic storm
On 11 and 12 September, the UN and many foreign embassies and organisations operating in Libya began expressing their condolences for the tragedy...
Bathily and Trabelsi discuss security situation
On 7 September, United Nations Special Envoy to Libya Abdoulaye Bathily met with Minister of Interior Emad Trabelsi to discuss the security...
MoI announces electronic surveillance system for the border with Tunisia
On 6 September, during a press conference held at the headquarters of the Agency for Combating Illegal Immigration in Tripoli, Minister of Interior...
Political unrest continues around Israel meeting as Dabaiba’s opponents capitalise on crisis
The public anger and protest over the Rome meeting between the now-suspended Government of National Unity (GNU) Foreign Minister Najla al-Mangoush...
Youth of Hadba protests against Syrian mercenaries in Tripoli
During the night from 29 to 30 August, the ‘Youth of Hadba’ protested in front of the Police Officers School in the Hadba area of southern Tripoli...
Tripoli clashes show absence of command and control in western Libya, Bathily tells UNSC
In his address to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on 22 August, UN Special Envoy to Libya Abdoulaye Bathily said the recent clashes in...
Russia strengthens military ties to LNA with high-level visit amid death of Wagner leader
On 22 August, a Russian military delegation led by Deputy Minister of Defense Yunus-bek Yevkurov arrived in Benghazi at the invitation of Libyan...
FACT accuses Chadian forces of airstrikes against its base in Libya as LNA announces plan to secure borders
On 18 August, the Front pour l’Alternance et la Concorde au Tchad (FACT) published a statement in which it claimed that the Chadian army had carried...
Libyan and international actors condemn Tripoli clashes, call for end of hostilities
On 15 August, as the fighting intensified in Tripoli after the commander of the 444 Brigade, Mahmoud Hamza, was arrested by the Special Deterrence...
Tunisia and Libya reach agreement to end migration crisis
On 9 August, the interior ministers of Tunisia and Libya, Kamel Fekih and Emad Trabelsi, reached an agreement in Tunis to end the crisis at the...
Libyan concerns around Niger crisis increase
On 9 August, Presidential Council (PC) Deputy Mousa al-Koni received a Tebu delegation in Tripoli to discuss the situation of the Tebu and the...
GNU condemns Niger coup as ECOWAS threatens military intervention
On 1 August, GNU Minister of Foreign Affairs Najla al-Mangoush held a phone call with her Chadian counterpart about the situation in Niger. They...
UNSG spokesperson ‘deeply concerned’ over migrants’ expulsion from Tunisia
On 1 August, Farhan Haq, the deputy spokesperson for the United Nations Secretary-General, issued a statement expressing ‘deep concern over the...
Mangoush discusses Niger coup concerns with US State Department
On 29 July, Government of National Unity (GNU) Foreign Minister Najla al-Mangoush spoke by phone with Counsellor of the US State Department Derek...
Niger coup raises concerns of further destabilisation in southern Libya
On 26 July, soldiers in Niger (which borders Libya to the south-west) announced a coup on national TV, saying they had dissolved the constitution,...
Security Working Group meets in Benghazi
On 24 July, Bathily and the the Ambassadors of Italy, Egypt, France, Germany, Tunisia, Turkey, and the United Kingdom met with Haftar in Benghazi to...
Amnesty International condemns activist kidnapping in Benghazi
On 18 July, Amnesty International highlighted that activist and professor of geography at the University of Benghazi Belkacem Eljard was kidnapped...
US civil case filed against Haftar and Prigozhin for ‘war crimes’ against Libyans
On 17 July, the Libyan-American Alliance (LAA) announced that it had filed a lawsuit against Russia’s Wagner Group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin and...
Paris hosts 5+5 JMC meeting to discuss establishment of joint military force in the South
On 17 - 18 July, France hosted in Paris a meeting of the 5+5 Joint Military Committee, in the presence of senior representatives of UNSMIL and...
Greece calls for resumption of ‘Operation Sophia’ naval mission
On 16 July, newly appointed Greek Migration Minister Dimitris Kairidis called on the European Union (EU) to resume ‘Operation Sophia’, an EU-led...
UNSMIL, US condemn Boumtari’s detention and HSC members’ travel ban at Mitiga Airport
On 13 July, the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) said it was ‘deeply disturbed’ by the ‘continued abductions, arbitrary arrests, and...
NGO condemns Libyan coastguard for opening fire on migrant boat
On 10 July, European rescue group SOS Mediterranee issued a statement condemning the Libyan coastguard for firing shots ‘in close proximity’ to...
European Commission says Libyan coast guard ‘infiltrated by criminals’
On 6 July, European Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson stated that there was a clear indication that the Libyan coast guard was...
Tunisia deports hundreds of African migrants to Libyan border region amid international condemnation
On 5 July, Tunisia forcibly deported several hundred black Africans to the Libyan border after violent riots involving migrants in Sfax (in which...
Wagner allegedly targeted in drone strikes on Khadim base as GNU, LNA deny responsibility
On 29 June, facilities of the Wagner mercenaries at al-Khadim Air Force Base in the Kharouba area south of al-Marj were reportedly attacked by at...
EU renews EUBAM mandate for two years
On 26 June, the Council of the European Union (EU) extended the mandate of the EU Border Assistance Mission (EUBAM) in Libya for an additional two...
Wagner halts march to Moscow following Minsk-brokered deal
On 24 June, Wagner Group commander Yevgeny Prigozhin ordered his fighters to halt their advance on Moscow and return to their bases in southern...
EU delivers more patrol boats to Libya
On 22 June, the European Union (EU) delivered two patrol boats to Libya in a ceremony in the Sicilian city of Messina. The delivery is part of an EU...
Chinese citizens arrested following raids on bitcoin mining farms in western region
On 21 June, two Bitcoin mining farms were raided in Misrata. Ten people were arrested (all Chinese). On 22 June, another Bitcoin mining farm was...
EUBAM Libya hosts counter terrorism workshop
On 20 June, the European Union Border Assistance Mission in Libya (EUBAM) said it was hosting a three-day workshop on Counter Terrorism with the...
Bathily highlights armed groups and human rights issues at UNSC briefing
In his briefing to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on 19 June, UN Special Envoy to Libya Abdoulaye Bathily stated that there is a...
EU denies helping smugglers in Libya
On 16 June, European Commission spokesperson Eric Mamer denied accusations that the European Union (EU) was helping smugglers in Libya as it steps...
Nine Egyptians in Greek court over Tubruq migrant boat tragedy
On 15 June, Greek authorities announced that nine Egyptian survivors were arrested and are due in a Greek court on suspicion of belonging to the...
HRW, UNSMIL slam eastern Libyan authorities for mass deportations
On 9 June, Human Rights Watch (HRW) slammed eastern Libyan authorities for the mass deportation of Egyptian migrants, who were forced to leave Libya...
Rome to ask Haftar for greater cooperation on migrant control from eastern Libya
On 9 June, Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi said at a press conference that Rome was planning to ask Libyan National Army (LNA) Commander...
Thousands of illegal migrants deported to Egypt amid unrest in Umm Sa’ad border town
On 2 June, thousands of illegal migrants were deported to Egypt amid unrest in Umm Sa'ad on the Egyptian border. As of 4 June, about 2,200 illegal...
Mishri discusses Zawiyya unrest with Turkish ambassador
On 31 May, High State Council (HSC) Chair Khaled Al-Mishri spoke with the Turkish Ambassador to Libya Kenan Yilmaz about the security situation in...
International concerns over use of weapons in Zawiyya’s civilian areas
On 29 May, the US said it is closely monitoring the situation ‘with concern amid reports of weapons being used in civilian areas.’ It called on...
UNSMIL ‘closely monitoring’ situation in Zawiyya
On 26 May, UNSMIL said that it was ‘in contact with the concerned national authorities’ about the airstrikes in Zawiyya and would continue to...
Security Working Group of the Berlin Process meets in Libya for first time
On 24 May, UN Special Envoy to Libya Abdoulaye Bathily and Turkish Ambassador to Libya Kenan Yilmaz co-chaired the first plenary session of the...
Haddad heads high-level military delegation to Rome
On 22 May, GNU Chief of Staff Muhammad al-Haddad led a high-level military delegation to Rome, where he met with Italy’s Chief of the Defense Staff,...
Haftar meets ambassadors of France, Sweden
On 21 May, Libyan National Army (LNA) Commander Khalifa Haftar received French ambassador to Libya Mustafa Maharaj in his office in Benghazi, where...
High-level Egyptian intelligence delegations visit Dabaiba and Haftar
On 17 May, Government of National Unity (GNU) Prime Minister Abdul Hameed Dabaiba met with a high-level Egyptian intelligence delegation to follow...