Russia’s Putin hosts Saddam Hifter amid instability in Libya: What to know

Moscow has built a strong relationship with Libya’s eastern camp, as Washington and Ankara pursue efforts to reunify the country’s political and military institutions.

Rosaleen Carroll , Adam Lucente

Aug 19, 2026

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Saddam Hifter, the deputy commander of Libya’s eastern army, met with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday as violence and protests sparked instability in the country. 

What happened: The meeting took place at the Kremlin on Wednesday. In a post on its official Facebook account, the Libyan National Army (LNA) said that Hifter highlighted the “deep” ties between the two sides and affirmed the LNA’s “commitment to strengthening cooperation with the Russian Federation across various fields.” 

Per the statement, Putin expressed appreciation for “the role of the armed forces in maintaining........

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