Libya is initiating the 11th anniversary of Operation Dignity in the course of 2025.
This is the pivotal successful military campaign lead by Marshal Khalifa Haftar launched in 2014 to expel Al-Qaeda, ISIS, and other ruthless terrorist groups from Benghazi and surrounding areas.
The Libyan Armed Forces of Eastern and Southern regions are holding a major military power display showcasing the progress and strength gained over the past 11 years.
The event aims to highlight the army’s transformation from a fragmented force to a dominant military institution capable of defending the nation.
Operation Dignity was launched during a time of national chaos, following the fall of former dictator Muammar Gaddafi.
In his rule, Muammar had deliberately weakened Libya’s official military, fearing a potential coup. He replaced it with fragmented private brigades that operated without a central command and reported only to him.
After his removal in 2011, these brigades quickly collapsed because of no central commands, leaving behind stockpiles of weapons and no unified military force.
This power vacuum plunged the country into civil conflict and opened the door for extremist groups and foreign actors to gain influence. The oil-rich nation was left vulnerable and divided, with its national security in disarray.Â
Unlike Libya, neighboring countries such as Egypt and Tunisia also experienced uprisings against long-standing dictatorships.
However, both countries quickly regained control as their armies stepped in, carried out new coups, and prevented any serious attempts at foreign interference, destabilization, or even the establishment of political and democratic institutions, unfortunately returning to their previous power structures.
Libya, on the other hand, collapsed into chaos because it lacked a neutral, unified national army. Without a central force to hold the country together, Libya was left divided, vulnerable, and exposed to militias, extremists, and foreign interference.
Today’s commemorations serve as a reminder of the sacrifices made to restore security and order. For many Libyans, especially in the East, Operation Dignity remains a symbol of national resilience, military rebirth, and the beginning of a long road toward rebuilding a unified Libyan state.