War of Words Escalates Between Two Conflicting Parties in Libya

LNA Commander Marshal Khalifa Haftar during a ceremony in central Benghazi to mark the 69th anniversary of Libya’s independence (Reuters)
LNA Commander Marshal Khalifa Haftar during a ceremony in central Benghazi to mark the 69th anniversary of Libya’s independence (Reuters)
TT
20

War of Words Escalates Between Two Conflicting Parties in Libya

LNA Commander Marshal Khalifa Haftar during a ceremony in central Benghazi to mark the 69th anniversary of Libya’s independence (Reuters)
LNA Commander Marshal Khalifa Haftar during a ceremony in central Benghazi to mark the 69th anniversary of Libya’s independence (Reuters)

A war of words has escalated between Libya’s two conflicting parties, threatening the recent United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL)-sponsored ceasefire agreement.

Regional and international parties have contacted Libyan National Army (LNA) Commander Marshal Khalifa Haftar and Head of the Government of National Accord (GNA) Fayez al-Sarraj to urge them to halt this escalation that threatens the collapse of a truce concluded in October, according to Libyan sources.

“US and international pressures aim to defuse the crisis and stop the mutual media war to secure the atmosphere for a decisive meeting of the Joint Military Committee, known as (5 + 5),” sources explained.

Military officials from both sides said their forces have received military reinforcements over the past hours and have taken combat positions along the lines of contact in the vicinity of Sirte and al-Jufra cities.

This amassing of forces means confrontation is nearing despite their commitment to the fragile ceasefire, they added.

Haftar’s remarks during the 69th anniversary of Libya’s independence and replies by GNA-affiliated military officials threatened the return of war.

In his statements, Haftar called on his fighters to “drive out” Turkish forces backing the UN-recognized government.

“There will be no peace in the presence of a colonizer on our land,” he said on Thursday.

“We will therefore take up arms again to fashion our peace with our own hands... and, since Turkey rejects peace and opts for war, prepare to drive out the occupier by faith, will, and weapons,” he stressed.

He noted that the international community did not stop the aggressors who continued to send mercenaries and weapons in a declaration of war on Libyans, in defiance to the international will and in an underestimation of human values.

Turkey thinks it will achieve its dreams of expansion and influence and its ambitions to control the oil fields and its export ports to address its collapsing economy through Libya’s wealth, Haftar stated.

He addressed the Turkish-loyal mercenaries saying firing their first bullet “means preparing for death,” stressing that all patriots shall be prepared to confront those who manipulate billions of dollars of Libyans’ money.

On Thursday, the GNA celebrated, in the presence of Turkish ambassador to Libya Sarhan Aksan, the 69th anniversary of Libya’s independence by organizing military parades in the center of the capital, Tripoli, in light of widespread security deployment.



Lebanon’s President Reveals the Country’s Stance on Relations with Israel

 Lebanese President Joseph Aoun looks on during a meeting with Cyprus' President Nikos Christodoulides at the Presidential Palace in the capital Nicosia, Cyprus, Wednesday, July 9, 2025. (AP)
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun looks on during a meeting with Cyprus' President Nikos Christodoulides at the Presidential Palace in the capital Nicosia, Cyprus, Wednesday, July 9, 2025. (AP)
TT
20

Lebanon’s President Reveals the Country’s Stance on Relations with Israel

 Lebanese President Joseph Aoun looks on during a meeting with Cyprus' President Nikos Christodoulides at the Presidential Palace in the capital Nicosia, Cyprus, Wednesday, July 9, 2025. (AP)
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun looks on during a meeting with Cyprus' President Nikos Christodoulides at the Presidential Palace in the capital Nicosia, Cyprus, Wednesday, July 9, 2025. (AP)

Lebanon has no plans to have normal relations with Israel at the present time, and Beirut’s main aim is to reach a “state of no war” with its southern neighbor, the country’s president said Friday.

President Joseph Aoun’s comments came as the Trump administration is trying to expand the Abraham Accords signed in 2020 in which Israel signed historic pacts with United Arab Emirates and Bahrain.

In May, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa said during a visit to France that his country is holding indirect talks with Israel to prevent military activities along their border from going out of control. Talks about peace between Israel and Syria have increased following the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad from power in December.

Aoun added in comments released by his office that only the Lebanese state will have weapons in the future, and the decision on whether Lebanon would go to war or not would be for the Lebanese government.

Aoun’s comments were an apparent reference to the armed Hezbollah group that fought a 14-month war with Israel, during which it suffered major blows including the killing of some of its top political and military commanders.

Hezbollah says it has ended its armed presence near the border with Israel, but is refusing to disarm in the rest of Lebanon before Israel withdraws from five overlooking border points and ends its almost daily airstrikes on Lebanon.

Earlier this week, US envoy Tom Barrack met with Lebanese leaders in Beirut, saying he was satisfied with the Lebanese government’s response to a proposal to disarm Hezbollah.

Hezbollah’s weapons have been one of the principal sticking points since Israel withdrew from southern Lebanon in 2000. Since then, Hezbollah fought two wars with Israel, one in 2006, and the other starting a day after the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, which triggered the war in Gaza.

The Hezbollah-Israel war, which ended with a US-brokered ceasefire in November, left more than 4,000 people dead in Lebanon and caused destruction estimated at $11 billion. In Israel, 127 people, including 80 soldiers, were killed during the war.

“Peace is the state of no war and this is what is important for us in Lebanon at the present time,” Aoun was quoted as telling visitors on Friday. He added that “the matter of normalization (with Israel) is not included in Lebanon’s current foreign policy.”

Lebanon and Israel have been at a state of war since 1948.