International actors
Tracking developments of international actors in Libya’s security space including military activity, the presence of foreign operatives and diplomacy pertaining to Libya’s security.
Trabelsi discusses security cooperation with Italian counterpart in Rome
On 14 April, Government of National Unity (GNU) Minister of Interior Emad Trabelsi met with his Italian counterpart Matteo Piantedosi in Rome in the framework of promoting mutual security cooperation between the two countries. The two sides addressed the situation of...
AFRICOM’s Exercise Flintlock 2026 proceeds smoothly
On 14 April, Exercise Flintlock 2026, US AFRICOM’s annual special forces exercise, was opened with a ceremony simultaneously in Sirte, Libya, and in Jacqueville, Côte d'Ivoire. Approximately 1,500 soldiers from more than 30 nations participated in this year's exercise...
Greece seeks to curtail migrant numbers reaching Crete from eastern Libya
On 14 April, Greek authorities said they have rescued over 300 migrants coming mainly from Bangladesh, Egypt, Yemen and Sudan over the previous two days. Nearly half of them were rescued on 13 April off the island of Crete, the coast guard said, adding that they were...
Saddam Haftar holds ‘constructive talks’ with senior military officers in Jordan
On 12 April, Libyan National Army (LNA) Deputy Commander Saddam Haftar arrived in Jordan for an official visit, holding ‘constructive talks’ with Major General Yousef Al-Hunaiti, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Jordanian Armed Forces, along with a number...
Flintlock 2026 kicks off in Sirte as US, Italy and Libya hail ‘historic milestone’
On 8 April, Libyan National Army (LNA) Deputy Commander Saddam Haftar said he received a phone call from US Senior Advisor Massad Boulos in which they discussed the preparations related to the component of the ‘Flintlock 2026’ exercise hosted by Libya. They affirmed...
UAE reportedly struggling to maintain air bridge to RSF in Sudan via Libya
According to OSINT sources, there appears to have been a sharp drop in suspicious cargo flights recorded between the UAE and Libya in recent months, with 20 flights in January, 6 in February and none in March. Satellite imagery points to a new smuggling route,...
Metagaz LNG tanker temporarily under control but still drifting in the Med
On 7 April, the heavily damaged Russian LPG tanker Arctic Metagaz was still drifting in the central Mediterranean. The ship was reported to be northwest of Benghazi, within Libya’s Search and Rescue (SAR) zone, being monitored by tenders and tugs at a distance but not...
GNU ramps up security engagement with international partners with focus on southern borders
On 5 April, the Acting Chief of Staff of the Libyan Army Lieutenant General Salahadeen al-Namroush, held talks in Tripoli with Sudan’s Military Intelligence Director, Lieutenant General Mohamed Sabir, on strengthening bilateral military and security ties. The meeting...
RFI claims 200 Ukrainians stationed in Libya attacked Arctic Metagaz tanker
On 2 April, Radio France International (RFI) revealed an “exclusive RFI investigation into a shadow war taking place on the African continent between Kyiv and Moscow, in Libya”. According to the widely quoted report, RFI has learned that Ukraine was responsible for...