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.”



Attacks on Syrian Security Forces Sent to Quell Sectarian Clashes Leave 18 Dead as Israel Strikes Targets to Protect Druze

Smoke billows following Israeli strikes in the distance as members of Syria's security forces man rocket launchers in an area between Mazraa and Walga near the predominantly Druze city of Sweida on July 14, 2025, following clashes between Bedouin tribes and Druze fighters. (AFP)
Smoke billows following Israeli strikes in the distance as members of Syria's security forces man rocket launchers in an area between Mazraa and Walga near the predominantly Druze city of Sweida on July 14, 2025, following clashes between Bedouin tribes and Druze fighters. (AFP)
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Attacks on Syrian Security Forces Sent to Quell Sectarian Clashes Leave 18 Dead as Israel Strikes Targets to Protect Druze

Smoke billows following Israeli strikes in the distance as members of Syria's security forces man rocket launchers in an area between Mazraa and Walga near the predominantly Druze city of Sweida on July 14, 2025, following clashes between Bedouin tribes and Druze fighters. (AFP)
Smoke billows following Israeli strikes in the distance as members of Syria's security forces man rocket launchers in an area between Mazraa and Walga near the predominantly Druze city of Sweida on July 14, 2025, following clashes between Bedouin tribes and Druze fighters. (AFP)

At least 18 members of Syria's security forces have been killed in the predominantly Druze city of Sweida, the Defense Ministry said, after they deployed to quell deadly sectarian clashes that had resumed on Monday, while Israel said it struck tanks in a town in the same province on the same day.

Sunday's fighting between Druze militiamen and Bedouin tribal fighters was the first time that sectarian violence erupted inside the city of Sweida itself, following months of tensions in the broader province.

Defense Ministry spokesperson Hassan Abdel-Ghani said in statements reported by Syrian state news agency SANA that a number of troops were also injured during attacks on military points by "outlawed groups".

Earlier, the ministry said in a statement to Reuters that these groups, who it did not identify further, had attacked a number of its units at dawn.

It said its forces responded to the attacks and had pursued the groups that refused to halt hostilities and continued to target security forces.

Meanwhile, the Israeli military said it attacked several tanks in a town in Sweida. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said the strikes were a "clear warning to the Syrian regime", adding that Israel would not allow harm to the Druze living in Syria.

Close ties between the Israeli state and its 120,000 Druze citizens, strengthened by the fact that Druze men serve in the Israel army, are one of the reasons for Israel's deepening involvement in Syria.

The fighting on Sunday left 30 people dead and prompted Syria's security forces to deploy units to the city to restore calm and guarantee safe passage for civilians looking to leave, the defense ministry said in earlier statements.

But intense clashes broke out again on Monday, local news outlet Sweida24 reported.

Another security source said that Syrian troops would aim to exert state control over the whole province to prevent any more violence, but that this could take several days.

It marked the latest episode of sectarian bloodshed in Syria, where fears among minority groups have surged since opposition fighters toppled President Bashar al-Assad in December, installing their own government and security forces.

The factions which fought Assad during the war agreed in December to dissolve into the Defense Ministry but efforts to integrate armed factions from minority groups - including Druze and Kurds - have largely stalled.

In southern Syria, efforts have been further complicated by Israel's stated policy that it would not allow Syria's new army to deploy south of Damascus and that Sweida and neighboring provinces should make up a demilitarized zone.

Interior Minister Anas Khattab said in a written statement carried on state media that the "absence of state institutions, especially military and security institutions, is a major cause of the ongoing tensions in Sweida and its countryside."

Sunday's violence erupted after a wave of kidnappings, including the abduction of a Druze merchant on Friday on the highway linking Damascus to Sweida, witnesses said.