Saddam Hifter, deputy commander of Libya’s eastern Libyan National Army (LNA), met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Wednesday (19 Aug) to discuss closer Libya-Russia cooperation as unrest continues across the country.
According to the LNA, Putin reaffirmed support for Libya’s stability, territorial integrity and efforts to unify state institutions. Hifter also held talks with Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov on expanding bilateral cooperation.
Key developments
- Putin praised the role of Libya’s eastern armed forces in maintaining security.
- The meeting followed protests, power outages and renewed violence across Libya.
- Russia has maintained a military presence in eastern Libya since the civil war.
Libya remains divided between rival administrations despite a 2020 truce, while international efforts, including by the United States and Türkiye, continue to encourage political reunification.
ℹ️ AL-Monitor
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