LNA, Presidential Council, UN Discuss Efforts to Unify Libyan Army

UN envoy Jan Kubis (L), LNA chief Haftar (C) and Vice President of the Presidential Council, al-Kouni meet on Saturday.
UN envoy Jan Kubis (L), LNA chief Haftar (C) and Vice President of the Presidential Council, al-Kouni meet on Saturday.
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LNA, Presidential Council, UN Discuss Efforts to Unify Libyan Army

UN envoy Jan Kubis (L), LNA chief Haftar (C) and Vice President of the Presidential Council, al-Kouni meet on Saturday.
UN envoy Jan Kubis (L), LNA chief Haftar (C) and Vice President of the Presidential Council, al-Kouni meet on Saturday.

Vice President of the Presidential Council, Moussa al-Kouni held talks with Libyan National Army (LNA) commander Khalifa Haftar on efforts to unify the military in eastern and western Libya.

The meeting on Sunday night was attended by head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya, Jan Kubis.

Al-Kouni said the meeting followed up on previous discussions on the unification of state institutions and the army.

Haftar’s office issued a brief statement confirming that the meeting was held at the General Command’s headquarters in al-Rajma near the eastern city of Benghazi. It did not provide further details.

On Sunday, al-Kouni and head of the Presidential Council, Mohammed al-Menfi, toured the eastern city of Tobruk without their security guards.

Menfi had kicked off on Saturday a visit to Derna city, the first by a high-ranking official since the February 17 revolution.

He met with senor officials, elders and civilian and military leaderships to discuss several pending issues, such as the return of the displaced and national reconciliation.

In a statement, he vowed to support the city in all fields, in coordination with the Government of National Unity (GNU).

Kubis met with Menfi in Tobruk on Sunday. 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 UN statement.

They discussed needed steps at national and international levels to start the withdrawal process of mercenaries and foreign fighters and forces from the entirety of Libya without any delay as requested by the UN Security Council.

Meanwhile, GNU chief Abdulhamid Dbeibeh held a meeting that included the finance minister and Tripoli officials to address efforts to improve the power supply to the capital.



Germany’s Merz Announces Gaza Aid Airlift, Mulls Upping Ante on Israel

 28 July 2025, Berlin: German Chancellor Friedrich Merz speaks at a press conference at the Federal Chancellery, after the Security Cabinet meeting on the conflicts in the Middle East. (dpa)
28 July 2025, Berlin: German Chancellor Friedrich Merz speaks at a press conference at the Federal Chancellery, after the Security Cabinet meeting on the conflicts in the Middle East. (dpa)
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Germany’s Merz Announces Gaza Aid Airlift, Mulls Upping Ante on Israel

 28 July 2025, Berlin: German Chancellor Friedrich Merz speaks at a press conference at the Federal Chancellery, after the Security Cabinet meeting on the conflicts in the Middle East. (dpa)
28 July 2025, Berlin: German Chancellor Friedrich Merz speaks at a press conference at the Federal Chancellery, after the Security Cabinet meeting on the conflicts in the Middle East. (dpa)

Germany will immediately launch an airlift to deliver humanitarian aid into Gaza as it considers stepping up pressure on Israel over the "catastrophic" situation in the enclave, Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Monday.

As the death toll from almost two years of war in Gaza nears 60,000, a growing number of people are dying from starvation and malnutrition, Gaza health authorities say, with images of starving children shocking the world and fueling international criticism of Israel over sharply worsening conditions.

Germany, together with the United States, has long remained one of Israel's staunchest allies and largest arms suppliers.

US President Donald Trump said on Monday many people were starving in the enclave, contradicting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who denied there was starvation there.

The German security cabinet convened for more than two hours on Monday to discuss the situation, Merz told a news conference in Berlin. While it welcomed Israel's announcement of a halt in military operations for 10 hours a day in parts of Gaza as an "important first step", it agreed more must follow.

Asked if the council discussed sanctions like suspending the EU pact governing relations with Israel, a move Germany has in the past rejected, Merz said the council had discussed what options were available.

"We are keeping such steps on the table," he said.

Before making any decisions, however, he would try to speak with Netanyahu later on Monday and Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul would travel to the region on Thursday, possibly together with his British and French counterparts. The German government would then reassess the situation over the weekend.

In the meantime, Berlin would do what it could to help alleviate the humanitarian situation, launching an airlift in cooperation with Jordan to deliver aid into Gaza.

"Defense Minister Boris Pistorius will closely coordinate with France and the UK, who are also willing to provide such an airlift for food and medical supplies," he said.

"We know that this can only provide very limited help for the people in Gaza, but it is nonetheless a contribution we are eager to make."

Germany would also prepare for a Gaza reconstruction conference in coordination with regional partners, Britain and France, he said. "No further expulsions from the Gaza Strip must occur."

German officials say their approach to Israel is governed by a special responsibility, known as the Staatsraison, arising from the legacy of the Nazi Holocaust.

They have long believed they can achieve more through diplomatic back channels than public statements. But Merz has come under growing pressure in recent weeks, including from within his own coalition, to take a firmer stance on Israel, and faced broad criticism for failing to join a statement last week by dozens of Western nations condemning the "inhumane killing" of Palestinians.