Summary:

On 29 September 2026, Italian outlet Il Foglio reported that Saddam Haftar, deputy commander of the Libyan National Army and son of eastern Libya-based commander Khalifa Haftar, was seeking closer ties with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and senior figures close to US President Donald Trump. 

According to the report, Haftar was in Abu Dhabi around the same time as Netanyahu’s reported meeting with UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed. The outlet also reported that Haftar was seeking a meeting with US Vice President JD Vance and contact with US Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle as part of efforts to strengthen his political position in Washington. 

Il Foglio linked the reported outreach to Haftar’s efforts to build Western support amid allegations concerning his involvement in a Libyan-Spanish militant network. The report also said his camp was seeking US mediation over control of Waha Oil and Gas, a subsidiary of Libya’s National Oil Corporation. Haftar previously met US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in June, while US consulting firm Ballard Partners has represented his interests since March, according to the report. 

Outlook: 

The reported outreach may add another layer to the Haftar family’s internal power struggle, as Saddam seeks to expand his influence beyond the networks controlled by his father and brothers. Building an independent external profile could strengthen his position within the eastern camp and give him greater leverage in Libya’s broader political landscape. 

The reported contacts may also signal ambitions that extend beyond eastern Libya. Saddam appears to be seeking the international relationships needed to establish himself as a potential successor to his father, rather than remaining primarily a figure within the Haftar family’s existing power structure. 

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