عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Arab World

Libya’s Haftar, Saleh Hold Surprise Meeting in Sign of Reconciliation

LNA commander Khalifa Haftar (R) meets with Speaker Aguila Saleh in this photo released by Haftar's office.
LNA commander Khalifa Haftar (R) meets with Speaker Aguila Saleh in this photo released by Haftar's office.
TT
TT

Libya’s Haftar, Saleh Hold Surprise Meeting in Sign of Reconciliation

LNA commander Khalifa Haftar (R) meets with Speaker Aguila Saleh in this photo released by Haftar's office.
LNA commander Khalifa Haftar (R) meets with Speaker Aguila Saleh in this photo released by Haftar's office.

Libyan National Army Commander (LNA) Khalifa Haftar and east-based parliament Speaker Aguila Saleh held a surprise meeting on Saturday, in what observers interpreted as a sign of reconciliation between them.

The officials met at Saleh’s office in the eastern city of al-Qubbah.

The speaker’s office said in a statement that talks focused on the latest developments in Libya. In a brief statement, Haftar’s office said that the officials met, without providing further details.

This marked the first meeting between Haftar and Saleh since the formation of the Government of National Unity (GNU), headed by Abdulhamid Dbeibeh, and Presidential Council, headed by Mohammed al-Menfi.

Menfi was in Tobruk on Thursday where he received head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) Jan Kubis.

They discussed ways to expedite the implementation of the ceasefire agreement in full, without any further delay with the opening of the coastal road as a necessary confidence-building step, said a UNSMIL statement.

Kubis had recently met with head of the Higher Council of State, Khalid al-Mishri, who said the presence of mercenaries “who are loyal to the other side is the main obstacle to reopening the coastal road” that connects the country’s east to its west.

He stressed the need for the withdrawal of all mercenaries and outlawed foreign forces before discussions over past military agreements can kick off.

Mishri also conveyed to Kubis his “concern” over how the GNU was prevented from meeting in the eastern city of Benghazi.

He remarked that the government was incapable of imposing its authority throughout the country, criticizing Haftar for being insubordinate to any authority, which undermines the possibility of holding transparent and free elections.

Meanwhile, the US embassy in Libya welcomed the reopening of the coastal road, saying it is “a key step to the full implementation of the ceasefire agreement and serves as a vital link for trade and a necessary supply route for items like vaccines and fuel benefitting all Libyans.”

GNU military official Ibrahim Beitalmal said earlier this week that the reopening of the road hinges on the withdrawal of mercenaries and on the LNA retreating to its bases in al-Rajma near Benghazi.

Most Viewed

 
 
Arab World

Khiam: The Center of Arab-Israeli Conflict Faces ‘Fourth Wave of Destruction’

Intense Israeli airstrike targets Khiam, Lebanon (AFP)
Intense Israeli airstrike targets Khiam, Lebanon (AFP)
TT
TT

Khiam: The Center of Arab-Israeli Conflict Faces ‘Fourth Wave of Destruction’

Intense Israeli airstrike targets Khiam, Lebanon (AFP)
Intense Israeli airstrike targets Khiam, Lebanon (AFP)

Residents of Khiam in southern Lebanon, hit by 12 airstrikes on Wednesday morning, see the attacks as yet another wave of destruction for a town scarred by conflict.
“Khiam has been devastated repeatedly, enduring pain with each blow over decades,” residents say. The town has already been destroyed three times since 1948 and faces new fears amid an intense military campaign and assault attempts.
Khiam, the largest town in the Marjayoun district, houses 35,000 people and over 5,000 homes.
Since 2006, it has expanded significantly, becoming a tourist spot with guesthouses known as “chalets.”
Since Oct. 2023, parts of these buildings, mainly on Khiam’s southern and eastern edges near Israel’s Metula settlement, have been damaged.
A Historic Staging Point Against Israel
Perched on high ground overlooking the Galilee, Khiam is open from the east, west, and south, providing a strategic link to the Golan Heights, Jordan, and northern Israel.
The town is known as the “last major Shia community” near Lebanon’s southern border, neighboring Christian, Druze, and Sunni areas.
This position made Khiam a focal point for Arab fighters against Israel since the 1940s and a regular flashpoint.
Historian Dr. Munzer Jaber says Khiam and other border villages have long faced displacement and Israeli bombardment.
In the 1940s, Khiam became a base for the Arab Salvation Army, which gathered volunteers from southern Lebanon and Syria, including units from Majdal Shams and Deir ez-Zor, led by Abdul Salam al-Ajili.
Since then, Khiam has seen frequent clashes with Israel due to its proximity to Metula, which Israel considers a strategic stronghold, Jaber noted to Asharq Al-Awsat.
Adding to the tensions, overlapping property claims among Syrians, Lebanese, Palestinians, and Jewish residents often lead to disputes.
The repeated destruction and conflict in Khiam have driven waves of migration to Beirut, especially after Palestine fell, cutting off jobs for southern Lebanese. Key markets in Marjayoun, Bint Jbeil, and Khiam shut down, leaving the local economy in decline.
Khiam lost its political and economic role until 1965, when the first Palestinian guerrilla operation against Israel shifted its focus to militant activity. Palestinian and leftist groups gained influence, sparking local divisions and causing many residents to leave as Palestinian forces moved in.
Jaber told Asharq Al-Awsat that this conflict created a strong pro-guerrilla movement among Khiam’s youth, leading to clashes with local leaders.
The growing Palestinian presence gave Israel a reason for airstrikes and security raids, which intensified in late 1973, pushing more residents to flee.
The Khiam Massacre
Israel intensified its military operations in Khiam over the years. In September 1977, Israeli forces entered the town, leading to fierce clashes with the pro-Israel militia led by Saad Haddad and Lebanese-Palestinian joint forces.
Israel officially occupied Khiam on March 14, 1978, during the first invasion of southern Lebanon, following three days of heavy bombardment.
Just a few days later, on March 17, Haddad’s militia carried out a massacre, killing 61 people, the youngest being just 60 years old. Residents reported widespread displacement and complete destruction of the town.
Ongoing Destruction
For five years, residents did not return, as Khiam became unlivable. After Israel's occupation, some residents slowly returned as a security zone was established.
The “South Lebanon Army,” led by Antoine Lahad, took over the notorious Khiam prison.
In the 1980s, Israel turned the town into a training ground for urban warfare, conducting drills that left it in a state of sustained destruction for 15 years, until Israel withdrew in 2000.
After the liberation of southern Lebanon, Khiam began to expand as residents returned, rebuilding homes and starting businesses.
However, around 40% of these new structures were destroyed during the 2006 war, marking the third wave of destruction.
The conflict saw Hezbollah destroy several Israeli Merkava tanks in the Khiam plains.
Once again, residents rebuilt, creating a more modern town with new mansions, schools, and healthcare facilities, making it a key hub in the region.
2023 Conflict
The situation in Khiam is once again dire as Hezbollah launched its war in support of Gaza on Oct. 8, 2023. Official sources report that by Sept. 23, more than 550 residential units had been destroyed.
Each day, Khiam faces artillery shelling and Israeli airstrikes, with the frequency of these attacks rising recently. Israeli forces have begun a ground operation to take control of the town and its elevated areas.