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Sisi Sends Libya’s Haftar a ‘Significant’ Message

Forces loyal to the Government of National Accord (GNA) in Tripoli. Reuters file photo
Forces loyal to the Government of National Accord (GNA) in Tripoli. Reuters file photo
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Sisi Sends Libya’s Haftar a ‘Significant’ Message

Forces loyal to the Government of National Accord (GNA) in Tripoli. Reuters file photo
Forces loyal to the Government of National Accord (GNA) in Tripoli. Reuters file photo

The Commander of the Libyan National Army (LNA), Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, received a letter which he labeled as “significant” from Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.

In a brief statement on Tuesday, Haftar said that he had received a “significant message from Sisi,” delivered to him by the Egyptian military intelligence chief, Major General Khaled Megawer.

Haftar met with Megawer at his headquarters near the eastern city of Benghazi.

Haftar did not divulge the message’s details, but well-informed sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that it is linked to negotiations aiming to convince him to respond to international and US demands on the resumption of oil production. This comes under the condition of fulfilling demands presented by the LNA and Libyan parliament.

Meanwhile, the Head of the Libyan Presidential Council, Fayez al-Sarraj, on Tuesday met with President of International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Peter Maurer and his accompanying delegation in Tripoli. The talks were attended by the Health Ministry Undersecretary Mohammed Haitham.

The meeting discussed means to enhance cooperation between the Government of National Accord (GNA), which is led by Sarraj, and the ICRC.

Haftar had met with Maurer on Monday and discussed humanitarian conditions in Libya, especially in areas damaged by the ongoing war against terrorism and Turkish-backed militias.

The meeting also discussed the means of humanitarian cooperation, and what the ICRC could do to help alleviate the suffering in the country.

In other news, GNA’s Chairman of the High Council of State Khalid al-Mishri reaffirmed preparedness to solidify the GNA’s sovereignty across Libya in cooperation with allies, in reference to Turkey and Qatar.

“Our meeting with the Turkish and Qatari representatives was positive and we emphasized the importance of political dialogue to solve the crisis,” he added.

The GNA has agreed with Turkey and Qatar to sign a three-way agreement for military cooperation, a senior Libyan official has announced following a quick visit by the Turkish and Qatari defense ministers to Tripoli.

The announcement came from Libya’s Deputy Defense Minister Salah Al-Namroush on Aug 17 in a statement following talks with Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar and Qatari Defense Minister Khalid bin Mohammad Al Attiyah in Tripoli.

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Syria Joins a Donor Conference for the First Time in a Crucial Phase for Its New Leaders

EU High Representative and Vice-President for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas (C), Syria's interim Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani (C-R), Jordan's Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi (C-L) and representatives pose for a family picture on the sidelines of the Brussels IX Conference “Standing with Syria: meeting the needs for a successful transition”, at the Europa Building in Brussels on March 17, 2025. (AFP)
EU High Representative and Vice-President for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas (C), Syria's interim Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani (C-R), Jordan's Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi (C-L) and representatives pose for a family picture on the sidelines of the Brussels IX Conference “Standing with Syria: meeting the needs for a successful transition”, at the Europa Building in Brussels on March 17, 2025. (AFP)
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Syria Joins a Donor Conference for the First Time in a Crucial Phase for Its New Leaders

EU High Representative and Vice-President for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas (C), Syria's interim Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani (C-R), Jordan's Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi (C-L) and representatives pose for a family picture on the sidelines of the Brussels IX Conference “Standing with Syria: meeting the needs for a successful transition”, at the Europa Building in Brussels on March 17, 2025. (AFP)
EU High Representative and Vice-President for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas (C), Syria's interim Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani (C-R), Jordan's Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi (C-L) and representatives pose for a family picture on the sidelines of the Brussels IX Conference “Standing with Syria: meeting the needs for a successful transition”, at the Europa Building in Brussels on March 17, 2025. (AFP)

International donors gathered on Monday in a show of support for Syria, hoping to encourage the new leaders of the conflict-ravaged country toward a peaceful political transition following the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad in December.

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani attended the conference — the ninth of its kind — in a first for a top official from Damascus.

But the United States, one of Syria’s top donors, wasn’t expected to offer assistance as the Trump administration is reviewing all foreign aid. It contributed almost $1.2 billion to Syria and the region last year.

Ministers and representatives from Western partners, Syria’s regional neighbors, other Arab countries and UN agencies also attended the one-day meeting in Brussels, organized in haste by the European Union amid change sweeping the country.

Opening the meeting, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that the EU was increasing its pledge to Syrians in the country and the region to almost 2.5 billion euros ($2.7 billion) for 2025 and 2026.

“We call on all of you who are here today to do the same, if possible, because at this critical time, the people of Syria need us more than ever,” von der Leyen said.

Syria's new leaders are trying to consolidate control over territory that was divided into de facto mini-states during nearly 14 years of civil war, and to rebuild the economy and infrastructure. The United Nations has estimated that it would cost at least $250 billion to rebuild Syria, while experts say that could reach at least $400 billion.

At the same time, Western governments are cutting back on aid spending, in part to use in defense budgets.

“We will give more, but we cannot fill the gap left by the US,” EU Crisis Management Commissioner Hadja Lahbib told reporters. "We will need to share the burden.”

Security concerns are also making donors hesitate. Earlier this month, an ambush on a Syrian security patrol by gunmen loyal to Assad triggered clashes. Some factions allied with the new government launched sectarian revenge attacks — primarily targeting Assad’s Alawite minority sect — that monitoring groups say killed hundreds of civilians over several days.

The EU said that it will only support “a peaceful and inclusive transition, away from malign foreign interference, which guarantees the rights of all Syrians without distinction of any kind.”

The 27-nation bloc has begun to ease energy, transport and financial sector sanctions to encourage the new authorities, but many other Western sanctions remain in place. The EU can reintroduce sanctions if things don’t go to the liking of Western backers.

Syria's foreign minister said that lifting the measures is no longer just a government demand but "a humanitarian and moral necessity.”

"We cannot talk about economic recovery and humanitarian development in Syria while restrictions continue to prevent even the arrival of medical equipment and spare parts to repair damaged hospitals and essential service facilities,” he said.

Syria's economy, infrastructure and institutions are in tatters. As a failed state, it could become another haven for extremists.

Amy Pope, director-general of the International Organization for Migration, urged donors to seize this opportunity to encourage the interim government to move in the right direction.

“It’s critical that countries take advantage of the moment we’re in,” Pope told The Associated Press.

“Of course, we all want to see an inclusive Syria,” she said. “We want to make sure there’s accountability for human rights violations. But the answer is to engage more, not to engage less.”

Syrians have only a few hours of electricity each day. Water supplies are unreliable and often unsafe. Unemployment runs to 80% or 90%. Destruction is widespread.

Many government employees and experts needed to rebuild fled after the 2011 peaceful anti-regime protests were violently quelled by Assad, leading to the conflict.

The UN refugee agency said that last year around 7 million people were displaced in Syria. More than 4.7 million refugees are registered in neighboring countries, most in Türkiye, Lebanon and Jordan.

The German government said that it would pledge around 300 million euros ($326 million) to help deal with the fallout from Syria’s civil war. More than half will be used to help people in Syria, with other funding supporting Syrians and communities elsewhere.

Monday's conference was also focused on meeting Syria’s economic needs. Infrastructure, health and education must be scaled up. Jobs and cash for work programs are needed so that Syrians can start to make a living.