By Jan Porch l May 18, 2026
DERNA, Libya — The Libyan National Army (LNA), led by Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, has launched what commanders describe as its largest military exercises to date, in a major show of force amid ongoing political divisions and international efforts to reunify the country.
The exercises, taking place in eastern Libya near Derna, involve more than 25,000 troops alongside armored vehicles, tank formations, and advanced air-defense systems, including Russian-made Pantsir missile systems. Senior commanders said the drills are intended as “a message for friends and foes” as Libya navigates a fragile political landscape.
The two-week operation is expected to culminate on May 19, marking the anniversary of the LNA’s 2014 “Operation Dignity” campaign against extremist groups in Benghazi. That campaign significantly expanded Haftar’s influence across eastern and southern Libya after years of instability following the overthrow of longtime ruler Muammar Qaddafi during the 2011 Arab Spring uprising.
Libya has remained deeply divided for more than a decade between the internationally recognized government in Tripoli and the eastern-based administration supported by Haftar’s forces in Benghazi. Although the country has avoided a return to full-scale civil war since the collapse of Haftar’s failed 2019 offensive on Tripoli, tensions and political fragmentation continue to hinder national reconciliation efforts.
According to reports, the military exercises come at a sensitive moment as the United States pushes for renewed dialogue between Libya’s rival eastern and western authorities. Washington, through senior adviser Massad Boulos, has reportedly been encouraging steps toward greater political and economic coordination between the two sides. Last month, legislative representatives from both administrations signed a US-mediated agreement aimed at unifying public spending for the first time in more than ten years.
LNA commanders insisted the drills are intended to demonstrate the force’s ability to defend Libya’s borders against extremist groups, smuggling networks, and instability spreading from neighboring countries including Mali and Niger. General Omar Mrajah Al Jedid, who oversees the exercises, said the army’s mission is to “safeguard the interests of all Libyans.
Senior officers also rejected criticism that the LNA functions solely as a regional or family-controlled force loyal to Haftar. Officials emphasized that the military seeks to portray itself as a national institution representing all Libyans despite longstanding accusations from human rights organizations of arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearances, and consolidation of power within the Haftar family.
The exercises also reflect wider geopolitical tensions across North Africa and the Middle East, where regional instability has intensified following the escalating conflict involving Iran, Gulf states, Israel, and the United States. Analysts say Libya’s internal balance of power may increasingly be shaped by broader regional security realignments and foreign diplomatic pressure.