Reports: Libya’s Haftar Meets US Officials in Cairo

Forces loyal to Libyan National Army commander Khalifa Haftar. (AFP)
Forces loyal to Libyan National Army commander Khalifa Haftar. (AFP)
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Reports: Libya’s Haftar Meets US Officials in Cairo

Forces loyal to Libyan National Army commander Khalifa Haftar. (AFP)
Forces loyal to Libyan National Army commander Khalifa Haftar. (AFP)

Libyan National Army (LNA) commander Khalifa Haftar had held talks with officials from the American administration during his visit to Cairo last week, an informed source revealed.

The American delegation included officials from the Defense and State Departments, as well as members of the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM), the source told Asharq Al-Awsat on condition of anonymity.

The AFRICOM spokesman did not reply to Asharq Al-Awsat when asked to comment about the reports. He instead said that questions should be posed to the State Department.

An official from the State Department told Asharq Al-Awsat that American government officials were in contact with several Libyan leaders, as well as international partners, in order to achieve stability and return Haftar and head of the Government of National Accord (GNA), Fayez al-Sarraj, to the negotiations table.

The ongoing fighting is endangering the lives of innocent civilians, destroying the civilian infrastructure and undermining American counter-terrorism efforts in Libya, he added.

Permanent peace and stability can only be achieved in Libya through a political solution, he said on condition of anonymity.

He called on all parties to immediately return to the UN mediation.

Haftar had in April held telephone talks with US President Donald Trump and his National Security Adviser John Bolton in what was seen as a shift in American policy from Sarraj to the LNA chief.

Haftar is expected to soon embark on a European tour that will see him make stops in France and Italy.

Sarraj had last week made similar visits in an attempt to garner support to the GNA and pressure the LNA to stop its march on Tripoli where his government is based.

On April 4, Haftar had launched an operation to liberate the capital from terrorist and criminal gangs.

On the ground, the LNA announced that it had captured the al-Zahra, al-Tweisha and Azizia areas in southern Tripoli.

The developments took place as LNA jets continued to pound the al-Sawani district in Tripoli amid the steady advance of land units.

The LNA has now set its sights on advancing on the heart of the capital “to target the militias of the terrorist criminal Ghaniwa al-Kakali, who will collapse very soon.”



Saudi Arabia: Regional Peace Starts with Recognizing State of Palestine

Manal Radwan and Anne-Claire Legendre attend the New York meeting (Asharq Al-Awsat).
Manal Radwan and Anne-Claire Legendre attend the New York meeting (Asharq Al-Awsat).
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Saudi Arabia: Regional Peace Starts with Recognizing State of Palestine

Manal Radwan and Anne-Claire Legendre attend the New York meeting (Asharq Al-Awsat).
Manal Radwan and Anne-Claire Legendre attend the New York meeting (Asharq Al-Awsat).

Saudi Arabia called on the international community to treat the recognition of a Palestinian state not as a symbolic move but as a strategic necessity for achieving lasting regional peace and stability.
Speaking at a high-level preparatory meeting for the upcoming international conference on resolving the Palestinian issue, Saudi representative Manal Radwan emphasized that regional peace begins with the recognition of Palestine. The conference, jointly organized by Saudi Arabia and France, will be held at the United Nations in June.
Radwan noted that establishing a Palestinian state is essential to ending a conflict that has lasted nearly eight decades. “This is not just about ending a war, it’s about ending a long-standing struggle,” she said. “The time has come for irreversible and transformative change.”

She stressed the urgent need for concrete action, especially as Gaza continues to suffer under a deepening humanitarian crisis. “Civilians are bearing the brunt of a war that must end immediately,” she said, raising concerns about growing violence in the West Bank and the region-wide impact of continued instability.
Radwan emphasized that a fair resolution to the Palestinian issue is more than a legal or moral duty, it is the foundation for a new regional order based on coexistence and mutual recognition. “Recognition of a Palestinian state is the only way to replace despair with a political horizon grounded in rights and sovereignty,” she said.
She also welcomed reform efforts by Palestinian leaders, including institutional changes initiated by President Mahmoud Abbas and the new government led by Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa, aimed at promoting transparency and economic recovery.
Radwan also introduced the Global Coalition to Implement the Two-State Solution, launched by Saudi Arabia to coordinate political, financial, and security support for the initiative. She urged the coalition to function as a mechanism for real implementation, not just consensus-building.
France, represented by Macron’s advisor Anne-Claire Legendre, echoed the urgency, warning that the two-state solution is more endangered than ever. “This conference must be a turning point, a shift from words to meaningful action,” she said.