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Haftar Holds Secret Meetings in Rome on Migration

Libyan General Khalifa Haftar addresses a press conference in Benghazi. PHOTO: AP
Libyan General Khalifa Haftar addresses a press conference in Benghazi. PHOTO: AP
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Haftar Holds Secret Meetings in Rome on Migration

Libyan General Khalifa Haftar addresses a press conference in Benghazi. PHOTO: AP
Libyan General Khalifa Haftar addresses a press conference in Benghazi. PHOTO: AP

Cairo- Following an invitation from the Italian government, Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, head of the Libyan National Army, arrived in Rome Tuesday to meet with Defense Minister Roberta Pinotti, Interior Minister Marco Minniti, the head of the Italian intelligence service and army commanders.

Italian newspaper “Il Messaggero” said that Haftar’s visit will include holding secret meetings on migration and discussing the possibility of providing protection for work sites of Italian Energy working group “Eni” in Libya.

Meanwhile, Head of the Russian contact group on Libya Lev Dengov denied Moscow's bias towards Haftar in the current crisis among the Libyan parties.

Dengov tried to prove the rapprochement among all Libyan parties. He said that during Haftar’s visit to the Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov, early this year, “the Russian contact group was meeting with Misurata soldiers, who defeated ISIS in Sirte."

“This reflects our stance. Our main goal is to combat terrorism, and we are ready to cooperate with any party that can assist us in this mission, and we also support the consolidation of state institutions in Libya.”

“Moscow does not intend to lift the arms embargo on Libya anytime soon,” he noted.

In the field, the clashes continue to escalate and then calm again between the two security forces of the government of the National Accord in the city, leaving 17 dead, about 50 wounded, and the majority of the city's population displaced, according to the Libyan Red Crescent.

Chairman of the Presidential Council of the Libyan Government of National Accord Fayez al-Sarraj was keen to visit the Martyrs’ Square in the center of Tripoli upon his arrival from New York, after the end of a demonstration called by former nominee to Premier post in Libya Abdul Basit Igtet.

On the other hand, US President Donald Trump has accused Libya of failing to cooperate in "restoring its nationals under final deportation orders."

“Libya faces great challenges in sharing several types of information, including information on public safety and terrorism, which are needed to protect national security,” Trump said.

In a statement issued by the US embassy in Libya on Monday, Trump said that the large terrorist presence within Libyan territories increases the risk posed by the entry of Libyans into the United States.

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Arab World

Hezbollah Sends Mixed Signals on Its Weapons

Hezbollah fighters stand before rocket launchers during military drill in Southern Lebanon, May 2023 (AP)
Hezbollah fighters stand before rocket launchers during military drill in Southern Lebanon, May 2023 (AP)
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Hezbollah Sends Mixed Signals on Its Weapons

Hezbollah fighters stand before rocket launchers during military drill in Southern Lebanon, May 2023 (AP)
Hezbollah fighters stand before rocket launchers during military drill in Southern Lebanon, May 2023 (AP)

Hezbollah has sent conflicting signals about its stance on a US proposal delivered by American envoy Tom Barrack during his visit to Beirut two weeks ago. Barrack is expected to return early next week to seek official responses during meetings with top Lebanese officials — including President Joseph Aoun, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam.

The US proposal reportedly calls for Hezbollah’s disarmament and for exclusive control of weapons to rest with the Lebanese state — a longstanding demand by Washington and its allies.

While senior Hezbollah officials, including MP Hussein Hajj Hassan, have said the group remains “resolute, composed and clear in its options” in the face of growing pressure, its parliamentary bloc, Loyalty to the Resistance, insisted that any talk about disarmament must follow an Israeli pullout from occupied Lebanese territory.

In a statement after its regular meeting chaired by MP Mohammad Raad, the bloc emphasized the need for a firm and sovereign Lebanese stance, stressing that Beirut had “fully adhered” to the ceasefire terms, while accusing Israel of repeatedly violating them.

“Lebanon remains committed to its national and sovereign rights, despite all the pressure, collusion and blatant bias shown by some major powers in favor of the Zionist enemy,” the statement read.

The bloc underscored that all discussions about national security strategy and stability must be rooted in a “framework of sovereignty,” and said the logical starting point is Israel’s withdrawal from occupied areas and its full compliance with the ceasefire.

Hezbollah has also begun a major strategic review in the aftermath of its destructive war with Israel, exploring ways to scale back its role as an armed group without fully relinquishing its weapons, three sources familiar with the discussions told Reuters.

The review comes amid increasing doubts over the level of support the group can expect from its main backer, Iran, which is itself emerging from a fierce conflict with Israel, according to a senior Lebanese official and a regional security source.

A senior Hezbollah figure with knowledge of the group’s internal deliberations said secret discussions are underway over its next steps.

The official, who requested anonymity, said small committees have been holding in-person and remote meetings to examine Hezbollah’s leadership structure, political role, social outreach, development work, and weapons arsenal.

According to the official and two other sources briefed on the talks, Hezbollah has concluded that the large weapons stockpile it amassed to deter Israel has now become a liability.

“Hezbollah had an excess of power, and all that power has become a curse,” the official said. “The group is not suicidal.”

Following the dismantling of most of its arsenal south of the Litani River - in line with previous agreements - Hezbollah is now considering handing over some of its heavy weapons from other parts of Lebanon, particularly drones and long-range missiles viewed as Israel’s top concern.

However, the sources said any such move would depend on Israel’s withdrawal from southern Lebanon and a halt to its military operations. Hezbollah has no intention of giving up its entire arsenal, they stressed. The group is expected to retain light arms and anti-tank missiles, which it views as a necessary deterrent against future attacks.

Amid these discussions, Hezbollah lawmakers have continued to defend the group’s armed status. MP Hussein Jishi, a member of Hezbollah’s parliamentary bloc, said it was “an illusion” for the Lebanese state to rely solely on diplomacy and international relations to reclaim occupied land.

“Seven months have passed since the ceasefire, and none of those bets have yielded any results,” he said. “Clinging to the resistance remains the only effective, national, human and moral choice to defend the country and preserve dignity.”

A European official familiar with Western intelligence assessments told Reuters that Hezbollah is engaged in extensive internal discussions about its future, but so far with no definitive outcome. The official described the group’s armed status as “part of its identity,” making it difficult to evolve into a purely political party.

Around a dozen sources with insight into Hezbollah’s thinking said the group is intent on keeping part of its arsenal not only due to threats from Israel but also out of concern that Sunni militants in neighboring Syria could exploit any security vacuum to launch attacks on eastern Lebanon - a stronghold of the Shi’ite group.