AFRICOM: The Flintlock 26 exercises embody an effective partnership (original) (raw)

The U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) stated on Wednesday that the Flintlock 26 exercises, which began in the city of Sirte on Tuesday, “are not merely a military exercise, but a manifestation of an effective partnership.”

AFRICOM said in a statement that the exercises, taking place in Libya for the first time with the participation of hundreds of military personnel from more than 30 countries, “bring together dedicated individuals from diverse cultures, working together toward a common goal: building a safer and more stable future for the people of the region.”

It explained that these forces will train over the coming weeks to exchange expertise and build the trust necessary to overcome common threats such as terrorism.

Flintlock exercises kick off

On Tuesday, the opening ceremony of the Flintlock military exercise began. The exercise, which will last two weeks, is the most prominent annual training event for special operations under AFRICOM.

Special forces from the Ministry of Defense of the Government of National Unity in Tripoli and special forces from the General Command in Benghazi are participating in the exercise, having arrived in the city of Sirte a few days ago in preparation for their participation in the first joint exercises bringing together forces from eastern and western Libya, with international participation led by the United States.

The U.S. Embassy in Libya stated that Libya’s hosting of the Flintlock 2026 exercise is an important step toward building stronger and more unified Libyan military institutions and improving regional coordination to address shared security challenges.