Libyan media confirmed that “this assignment will be followed by a number of important assignments in the coming days.” This announcement came a day after celebrating the 85th anniversary of the founding of the Libyan Army and is in line with the development and enhancement of the overall performance of the Libyan Armed Forces.
For his part, Aqila Saleh congratulated Saddam Khalifa Haftar on his appointment as deputy to his father, describing the decision as “wise, reflecting a strong trust in his competence and military experience.” Aqila considered that “the appointment of Saddam Haftar enhances the status of the military institution and supports its strength and ability to preserve the nation’s sovereignty and protect its unity, security, and stability,” wishing him success in his new duties.
The Libyan Army was founded on August 9, 1940, by Libyan resistance forces exiled to Egypt, in the Abou Rawash area of Giza Governorate. They participated alongside British forces against the Italian forces, numbering about 11,000 fighters at the time. After Libya’s independence in 1951, the army was restructured, and the government began sending military missions abroad before establishing the first military school in the city of Zawiya in 1953 to graduate batches of officers.
In its early days, the army was led by a British officer, then Brigadier Imran al-Jadhra. By 1954, the government sought expertise from the Kingdom of Iraq to train the army, sending a select group of the best Libyan military personnel there.
