In a historic first, Libya will co-host Exercise Flintlock 2026, a training event intended to bring together both factions of the country’s divided armed forces.
U.S. Lt. Gen. John Brennan, the deputy commander of U.S. Africa Command, made the announcement on October 14 during a weeklong visit to the country. Flintlock, the premier special forces exercise on the African continent, will also include training locations, or “spokes,” in Mauritania and Côte d’Ivoire.
“This exercise isn’t just about military training; it’s about overcoming divisions, building capacity, and supporting Libya’s sovereign right to determine its own future,” Brennan said. “By working alongside Libyans from the west and the east, we’re directly contributing to Libyan efforts to unify their military institutions.”
The spring exercise is expected to be held near Sirte, a coastal city on the ceasefire line that splits the country in half. The western half is controlled by the Tripoli-based Government of National Unity; the eastern half is controlled by Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar and his Libyan National Army.
After years of fighting, the two sides declared a ceasefire in 2020, and an uneasy peace has held since that time. In January 2025, the U.N. Security Council modified an arms embargo to allow for technical assistance and training to promote the reunification of Libya’s security forces.
Flintlock brings together about 1,500 troops from more than 30 countries and includes tactical training in skills like marksmanship, small-unit tactics and field medicine. The event typically includes command post exercises and humanitarian assistance to surrounding communities. Italy’s Special Operations Command will play a lead role in the planning and execution of the Libya spoke of Flintlock 26.
During his most recent visit, Brennan met with Deputy Defence Minister Abdulsalam Zubi, Chief of Staff Mohamed Haddad and Director of Military Intelligence Mahmoud Hamza in Tripoli. In Sirte, he met with Lt. Gen. Saddam Haftar, Khalifa Haftar’s youngest son, who was recently named deputy commander of the Libyan National Army.
Hosting Flintlock not only will allow Libyan forces to sharpen skills and improve counterterror capabilities, it also will be a rare opportunity for its military institutions to cooperate.
“The participation of western and eastern Libyan forces together marks a significant step forward in Libyan efforts towards unification of military institutions and enabling strong US-Libya security cooperation,” AFRICOM said.
The visit was Brennan’s fourth to the continent and it comes during a year of significant outreach by the U.S. In April, the U.S. 6th Fleet flagship USS Mount Whitney made port calls in Tripoli and Benghazi, the first such visits by a U.S. Navy ship to Libya in 56 years. Those efforts are expected to continue in the coming year.
“We have a growing and valuable partnership with Libyan forces from throughout the country, and we look forward to conducting training that directly supports Libyan reunification efforts,” said Brennan.