On 26 May, the Libyan National Army (LNA) and eastern authorities held a large military parade this week to celebrate the 11th anniversary of Operation Dignity. The LNA held the military parade at the new military city west of Benghazi, overseen by LNA Commander Khalifa Haftar, House of Representatives (HoR) Speaker Aqeela Saleh and Government of National Stability (GNS) PM Osama Hammad. Several military officers and commanders attended, along with some international diplomats. There were various formations and marches and speeches, creating a big spectacle. Various new types of military equipment and weaponry was also shown off during the parade. Notably, the Russian Deputy Minister of Defence Yunus-Bek Yevkurov came to Benghazi for the celebrations. Unlikely the 10th anniversary celebrations in 2024 however, there did not appear to be high-level participation from Western officials.
In his speech, Haftar praised the armed forces for their steadfast defence of Libya against terrorism and extremism, describing the military as ‘the solid shield and guarantor of Libya’s security.’ He said ‘The armed forces are the guarantors of national security and the backbone of stability,’ urging full readiness to confront both internal and external challenges.
In his speech, Saleh described the LNA as the only institution capable of deterrence and protection and commended the LNA’s efforts to build a professional national army. In Hammad’s speech, he announced the issuance of a resolution naming the military city the ‘Khalifa Haftar Military City’. Hammad pointed out that the security and stability achieved by the armed forces across large areas of Libya has paved the way for redevelopment and reconstruction in southern and eastern Libya, as well as large parts of the western region. He emphasized the government’s ongoing efforts to rebuild and fulfil the aspirations of the Libyan people.