Lieutenant General Saddam Haftar, Deputy Commander of the General Command, announced on Tuesday, the start of tactical exercises and operations as part of the annual “Flintlock 2026” military exercise in the vicinity of the city of Sirte.

He said: “Military units from the Libyan Joint Forces, the U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), Italian forces, and the rest of the participating forces have begun conducting exercises in accordance with the highest standards of discipline and military coordination, as part of the opening phase hosted by Libya for the first time for the U.S. Africa Command’s multinational special operations exercise,” according to a post on his personal Facebook page.

Saddam praised the efforts of “the young Libyans participating in the exercise,” who are performing their duties with “high professionalism,” noting that their capabilities “have developed significantly over the past years, thereby enhancing their readiness and combat effectiveness and contributing to supporting security and stability efforts at the regional and international levels.”

Libya’s Status as a Partner in Supporting Security

Haftar explained that this multinational military exercise affirms Libya’s status as a reliable partner in supporting regional and international security and peace, and reflects the level of existing cooperation with the United States and Libya’s partners from Arab and African countries and neighboring European states.

He expressed his appreciation for the efforts of AFRICOM and the U.S. Embassy in Libya in their ongoing coordination with the General Command, noting Italy’s role in “planning this exercise and supporting its implementation.”

Exercise Opening Ceremony This Week

Yesterday, senior leaders from Libya, Italy, and the United States issued a joint statement confirming the official launch of the “Flintlock 2026” exercise, following an opening ceremony to be held in Sirte this week.

Special forces affiliated with the Ministry of Defense of the Government of National Unity in Tripoli and special forces affiliated with the General Command in Benghazi are participating in the exercise, after the forces arrived in the city of Sirte a few days ago in preparation for participating in the first joint exercises bringing together forces from eastern and western Libya, with international participation led by the United States.