Libya – In Sirte, Deputy General Commander of the Libyan Armed Forces Lt. Gen. Saddam Haftar received U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) Deputy Commander Lt. Gen. John Brennan, U.S. Embassy Chargé d’Affaires to Libya Jeremy Brent, and their accompanying delegation, conveying the greetings of General Commander Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar to the guests.
Strengthening ties and security coordination
The meeting exchanged views on advancing bilateral relations, combating terrorism and extremism, safeguarding regional security, and addressing irregular migration, in addition to exploring avenues of military cooperation between the General Command and AFRICOM.
“Flintlock 2026”… Sirte named a principal venue
The U.S. Embassy announced that AFRICOM Deputy Commander Lt. Gen. John Brennan confirmed Libya’s designation as a principal location for “Flintlock 2026”—AFRICOM’s premier annual special-operations exercise—with part of the drill to be hosted in Sirte. Security forces from across Libya will participate alongside Italy and other key partners. The exercise aims to bolster coordination and interoperability among allies through joint command-and-control in counterterrorism operations.
Praise for facilitation and an emphasis on unity
The Embassy commended the facilitation provided by security forces from eastern and western Libya, as well as by the Italian government, in preparing for the joint exercise in Sirte. It stressed that “strength, cooperation, and unity” are central to shared efforts to achieve regional peace, adding that the event reinforces a collective commitment to stability and prosperity in the region.
