Haftar Rejects Sarraj Proposal for Military, Security Coordination

LNA commander Khalifa Haftar. (AFP)
LNA commander Khalifa Haftar. (AFP)
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Haftar Rejects Sarraj Proposal for Military, Security Coordination

LNA commander Khalifa Haftar. (AFP)
LNA commander Khalifa Haftar. (AFP)

Khalifa Haftar’s Libyan National Army (LNA) rejected a proposal by Government of National Accord chief Fayez al-Sarraj to establish military and security coordination between them to combat terrorism.

LNA spokesman Ahmed al-Mismari stated that disputes with the GNA still stand due to Sarraj’s insistence on considering himself high commander of the Libyan army.

Haftar refuses to be affiliated to an illegitimate government, he said.

Sarraj had made an indirect proposal for military and security coordination with the LNA during the GNA’s commemoration of the eighth anniversary of Libya’s 2011 popular revolt that toppled the regime of longtime ruler Moammar al-Gaddafi.

The GNA said that it rejects the exploitation of the war on terrorism to advance political agendas.

There can be no military solution to the crisis, it stressed, while confirming its commitment to holding elections in the country.

“The overwhelming majority of the people want to hold elections and all sides must yield to the will of the people,” it declared.

Meanwhile, Mismari said that uniting the military institution in Libya according to Egyptian-sponsored negotiations will fail because of the lack of disciplined military forces that adhere to Tripoli.

The capital is instead controlled by militias, he noted.

Moreover, he stressed that the LNA will continue its mission to liberate the remaining cities of the South from the clutches of terrorist groups and Chadian gangs.

The LNA is seeking to secure Libya’s borders with neighboring countries of Niger, Algeria and Chad, he stated.

Marking the eighth anniversary of the revolt, the US embassy in Libya tweeted: “The United States reaffirms its commitment to stand with all Libyans who are working to achieve a more secure and prosperous future in Libya.”

British Ambassador to Libya Frank Baker tweeted that the Libyan people must unite on the occasion in order to achieve their country’s stability and prosperity.



Confession in Hisham al-Hashimi Killing Sparks Outrage in Iraq

File photo shows an Iraqi man standing in front of a poster of researcher Hisham al-Hashimi, who was shot dead in Baghdad in July 2020 (AP)
File photo shows an Iraqi man standing in front of a poster of researcher Hisham al-Hashimi, who was shot dead in Baghdad in July 2020 (AP)
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Confession in Hisham al-Hashimi Killing Sparks Outrage in Iraq

File photo shows an Iraqi man standing in front of a poster of researcher Hisham al-Hashimi, who was shot dead in Baghdad in July 2020 (AP)
File photo shows an Iraqi man standing in front of a poster of researcher Hisham al-Hashimi, who was shot dead in Baghdad in July 2020 (AP)

A leaked video showing the confession of the man accused of killing prominent Iraqi researcher Hisham al-Hashimi has reignited public scrutiny of the 2020 assassination and raised fresh questions about those behind the killing and the judiciary's handling of the case.

The video, widely circulated among Iraqi users on X, shows Ahmed Hamdawi Owaid detailing his role in the drive-by shooting that claimed al-Hashimi’s life outside his home in Baghdad’s Zayouna district.

The clip sparked a torrent of commentary on social media, with many Iraqis criticizing both armed factions and the judiciary.

Speculation swirled over who leaked the interrogation footage, which appears to have come from a police officer, and what their motives were. Many believe the leak was a calculated move by opponents of both the judiciary and powerful militias, reflecting the deep divisions between Iraq’s ruling forces, armed groups, and judicial authorities.

In the video, Hamdawi names senior Kataib Hezbollah figure and current lawmaker Hussein Moanes as the one who ordered the hit, a revelation seen as a direct blow to the Iran-aligned militia. Moanes, also known by his alias Abu Ali al-Askari, recently lashed out at calls to disarm armed factions.

Al-Askari had operated anonymously on X for years before al-Hashimi revealed his identity weeks ahead of his assassination, linking him to Moanes, a move that some now view as a possible trigger for the killing.

While some outlets quoted Moanes denying involvement, the Sabereen News channel, which is affiliated with armed groups, said he has not issued any official response.

Judiciary Under Fire

The leak has placed Iraq’s judiciary under renewed scrutiny, particularly after it released Hamdawi in March 2024 for “lack of evidence” despite his recorded confession and detailed description of the crime.

Rather than addressing the inconsistencies surrounding Hamdawi’s release, Iraq’s Supreme Judicial Council issued a statement condemning the leak, calling it illegal and an attempt to mislead public opinion.

The council confirmed that Hamdawi had been detained under Order No. 29, which established a committee led by former intelligence officer Abu Ragheef during Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi’s tenure.

The statement added that Hamdawi gave different testimony before the judicial committee than what he said in the leaked video.

The Abu Ragheef committee had previously faced criticism from armed faction-aligned figures, and Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani ultimately disbanded it in 2022 after assuming office.

The judiciary noted that the leaked video was likely filmed by a police officer on the committee, and that its publication violated legal investigative procedures.

Calls for Justice Persist

It remains unclear whether the new evidence will lead to a retrial. Hamdawi was reinstated as a police officer after his acquittal, and a leaked document suggests he was included in the Interior Ministry’s annual promotions list.

Judicial sources say a retrial is unlikely given the political pressure on the courts and resistance from influential factions to reopening the case.

Al-Hashimi, an expert on extremist groups and a government advisor, was gunned down on July 6, 2020. Days later, Kadhimi announced the arrest of the suspects, including Hamdawi, whose initial confession was broadcast on state television.

Despite multiple court hearings beginning in September 2021, the judiciary postponed the verdict in six separate sessions before ultimately releasing him in late 2022. The delays fueled suspicions among activists and civil society groups that political pressure was exerted to secure Hamdawi’s release.

Five years on, al-Hashimi’s murder remains unsolved, and his killers have yet to face justice.