Cartoon: #Libya and #Turkey toast their maritime bond over oil and gas, leaving #Greece with a bitter taste.

Haftar’s Dilemma: Ankara’s Hammer and Tel Aviv’s Anvil over Libya-Turkey Maritime Deal Saddam Haftar, son of wannabe dictator Khalifa Haftar, is under intensifying pressure from Turkey to secure parliamentary ratification of a 2019 maritime agreement while facing opposing demands from so-called Israel, according to Ahmed Khalifa, a well-known journalist and an Al Jazeera correspondent in Libya. Citing security sources in Benghazi, Khalifa wrote that Turkish officials are pressing Saddam Haftar to urge newly elected House of Representatives Speaker Al-Saleheen Abdul-Nabi to convene a session in Benghazi to ratify the Libya-Turkey memorandum on the delimitation of maritime jurisdiction areas. The 2019 deal, signed between Turkey and the then-Tripoli-based Government of National Accord, has long been opposed by Greece, Egypt, Cyprus, and Israel as "infringing on their maritime claims in the Eastern Mediterranean." The sources said the Turkish push follows the recent ousting of longtime Speaker Aguila Saleh, who had repeatedly refused to ratify the agreement amid pressure from Cairo and Athens. Lawmakers elected Al-Saleheen Abdul-Nabi as speaker in early October 2026 after approving term limits that ended Saleh’s nearly 12-year tenure. Abdul-Nabi has previously chaired the parliament’s Libyan-Turkish Parliamentary Friendship Committee. According to the same sources, Israeli pressure on Saddam Haftar aims to block the deal and reject Turkish demands, with backing from Haftar’s regional ally, the UAE. Turkish pressure has included a threat to withdraw support for Saddam and the Haftar family if ratification is delayed, potentially redirecting that support toward political and military factions in western Libya instead, according to sources.

From Libya's Warshafana to Italy and back again, ‘Luciano Warshafani’ returns to the Libyan home after half a century Fifty-six years after leaving the land where he was born and raised, Italian national Luciano — widely known by his local nickname “Luciano Warshafani” — arrived back in Tripoli on Friday, driven by decades of nostalgia to reconnect with his roots and childhood friends. Born in the Libyan region of Warshafana, Luciano spent his early childhood years in the country following the death of his father, who passed away in Libya. Immersed in the local community from a young age, Luciano grew up integrated into Libyan society, learning to speak the local Arabic dialect fluently — a tongue he retains to this day. At the age of 17, following political shifts in 1970, Luciano departed Libya alongside thousands of other Italian residents. Despite the passage of more than half a century, his bond with the country never faded. Upon his arrival on Friday, Luciano embarked on an emotional journey through his past, visiting the house where he was born and re-establishing contact with lifelong companions. Among them was his childhood friend, Haj Salem Al-Lafi, with whom he shared his early years before his departure. Speaking upon his return, Luciano expressed deep affection for his hometown and confirmed that his journey is only beginning. He announced plans to tour several cities and towns across Libya’s western region during his stay to reconnect with the landscapes and people of his youth.

The Fall of Aguila and the End of His Maneuvers lyo.ly/8hjl

#Malta Enterprise Returns to #Libya: A Strategic Bridge for European and North African Expansion. An exculsive Interview with Malta Enterprise’s Charles Saliba. lyo.ly/8gi6

Warlord ​Haftar solidifies dynastic rule as son Saddam takes over as acting commander-in-chief ​In a sweeping move to cement family control over eastern Libya, the so-called General Command announced the official appointment of Saddam Haftar as acting commander-in-chief, succeeding his father, Khalifa Haftar. ​The transition effectively sidelines regular military officers and solidifies a family-led succession plan, bringing an end to months of speculation regarding internal power-sharing among the Haftar offspring and preempting potential challenges from veteran commanders. ​Scarcely hours after stepping into his new role, the younger Haftar signaled a firm grip on the apparatus of state and militia security. He convened a high-level security meeting in Benghazi, bringing together the military judiciary, the public prosecutor, and the director of military prisons. ​Analysts note this swift maneuver is designed to tighten oversight on judicial files and detainee records, ensuring absolute alignment across the security apparatus in eastern and southern territories. ​The formal elevation of Saddam Haftar transcends traditional military restructuring, carrying profound weight for Libya's stalled political process. Observers suggest the move is a deliberate effort to present international actors with an irreversible fait accompli. ​By finalizing internal succession arrangements, the Rajma camp signals to foreign stakeholders—particularly those engaged in regional stability, counterterrorism, and migration management—that future diplomatic and security channels must run directly through the newly appointed commander.

Surprise Appointment: Unknown activists declare 'unified' Libyan government in Geneva ​A previously obscure group of political activists, operating under the banner of the “Libyan Political Dialogue Forum,” stunned observers on Friday by announcing the appointment of Mustafa al-Majdoub as the head of a self-declared “unified Libyan government.” ​The announcement, which emerged from the Swiss forum, was organized by figures largely unknown to the broader Libyan political landscape. By establishing this parallel administration, the organizers explicitly stated their intent to launch a political process entirely independent of United Nations auspices, effectively rejecting the internationally mediated track that has guided Libyan diplomacy for years. ​The move marks a bold, if unconventional, attempt to circumvent existing political channels. Because the group lacks established political history or formal recognition, experts are questioning the initiative's viability and its potential to exacerbate the country’s existing governance divisions. ​As of Friday evening, there has been no recognition of al-Majdoub’s appointment from established domestic authorities or international stakeholders. The sudden declaration has left many wondering how these organizers intend to exert influence or secure authority without the backing of the international community or existing Libyan power centers.

#Pakistan has sent weapons to Libyan warlord Khalifa Haftar as part of a deal financed by Saudi Arabia, the Middle East Eye reported on Tuesday. The United Kingdom-based media website and channel revealed that at least five cargo planes from Pakistan carrying armaments were unloaded at Benghazi airport in March. #Libya #Libyaobserver

Ultras Teha Boys, a prominent ultras group dedicated to supporting Al-Ittihad Club, held a protest outside #Italy’s embassy in Tripoli, demanding the release of five Libyan footballers sentenced by an Italian court in 2015 to 30 years in prison on alleged charges related to human trafficking and illegal immigration. #Libya #Libyaobserver

Libyan charity group visits #Indonesia to bolster cooperation lyo.ly/8c82

Libyan engineer Ahmed Al-Sa'ed from the city of Misrata has developed and successfully test-flown a homemade search and rescue drone. He named the unmanned aircraft "F17," in reference to February 17. Al-Sa'ed stated that he is capable of developing drones for various other purposes, provided sufficient funding and budget are made available. #Libya #Libyaobserver

#Libya and #China agree to boost ties, establish joint committee during Beijing talks lyo.ly/8bqw

Libyan multi-million drama portraying Haftar as savior branded propaganda, yanked from leading streaming platform Shahid lyo.ly/8bby #Libya #Libyaobserver

Mohamed Wardako, a prominent military figure in southern Libya, is contesting warlord Haftar’s control - Wardako is a key leader of Libya’s Tebu ethnic group. - Wardako was an ally of warlord Haftar and joined Operation Dignity back in 2014. - Haftar’s media outlets and mouthpieces were calling him a hero, a valiant fighter, and a protector of the southern borders. - He defected from Operation Dignity after discovering that Haftar's forces were running smuggling and organized crime networks in the southern border regions. - He established a force called the Operations Room for the Liberation of the South. - According to Wardako, his force aims to end injustice and confront the gangs that systematically plunder Libyan resources and lead transnational organized crime networks by exploiting the name of the Libyan army. - Haftar's media outlets and mouthpieces launched a counterattack on Wardako, leveling accusations against him as they usually do with any opponent of Haftar. - In the blink of an eye, they changed him from a Libyan national hero to a rogue Chadian citizen and a dangerous criminal. - He was accused of leading terrorist groups aiming to destabilize the south. #Libya #Libyaobserver

Yes he's right. The UAE is an evil nation, fueling tensions, undermining stability, and backing non-state, separatist armed groups. #Libya #Libyaobserver

Saif Gaddafi was buried in Bani Walid town on Friday. Loyalists of the former regime used AI-generated photo manipulation to create fake images of massive crowds at his funeral prayer to make it appear much larger than reality. #Libya #Libyaobserver

Opinion: Insight into the Egyptian Message to Saddam Haftar: National Security and Limits of Regional Play lyo.ly/89kg

Royal Jordanian, on Thursday, resumed flights to Libya’s Misrata Airport with two weekly flights, after a hiatus of more than 10 years. #Libya #Libyaobserver

#Libya’s Grand Mufti decries #Pakistan-Haftar military deal as unethical, urges government to summon Pakistani ambassador lyo.ly/84sn

Opinion: Will #Libya's Election Sun Rise, or Will the Night of Division Prolong? lyo.ly/7ixd