The newly appointed Chief of General Staff of the Libyan National Army (LNA), Lieutenant General Khaled Haftar, has stressed that Libya’s strategic relationship with Egypt is rooted in shared national security interests and the joint fight against terrorism.
In his first interview since assuming the role, Haftar underlined the importance of Cairo’s support in training Libyan forces and strengthening their operational capacities. He told Egypt’s newspaper “Youm 7” that the LNA continues to play a decisive role in protecting Libya’s sovereignty, dismantling extremist networks, and securing the country’s vast borders.
Haftar emphasised that the Libyan and Egyptian militaries are bound by mutual concerns over regional stability. “Our cooperation goes beyond training; it is about ensuring that terrorist groups never regain a foothold in our region,” he said.
The Chief of Staff also highlighted Egypt’s contribution in providing advanced training programmes, which, he noted, have helped modernise Libya’s military structure.
The Libyan military leader reaffirmed that defeating terrorism remains a top priority. He pointed to recent operations that disrupted extremist cells in eastern and southern Libya, adding that the LNA’s readiness has significantly improved with international backing.
Haftar also touched on Libya’s broader ambitions for stability and progress. He urged regional and international partners to maintain their commitment to peace in North Africa, warning that any decline in support could risk renewed violence.
He concluded by stressing that the Libyan people deserve stability, peace, and development, and that the armed forces will continue to work towards achieving these goals in coordination with trusted allies such as Egypt.
