The eighty-first anniversary of the Libyan Army: Egypt was the hub of the formation

The Libyan Army had been formed before the establishment of the Kingdom of Libya, prior to its liberation from the Italian colonial and declaration of independence. It was in August 9, 1940, following a meeting between Idris Al-Senussi (Idris I) and forty Libyan elders residing in Egypt for three days in the former’s house in Alexandria in October 20, 1939. A decision was taken by the gathered that Idris would negotiate with the English government on founding an army its mission would participate in liberating Libya from the Italian colonial. Therefore, a decree on establishing a Libyan army was issued and an office to recruit army volunteers was opened in Cairo in August 12, 1940. The Army was known then as “The Liberation Army” or “Al-Senussi  Army” and the first training camp for it was set up in Abu Rawash, Alexandria.

The Libyan Army fought in World War II along with the Allies and gave its first battle in Sidi Barany, Alexandria in December 1940. Its flag was separate from the flags of The British Eighth Army units - a black flag with a star and crescent in the center. The Libyan forces continued to advance behind the retreating troops of Italy and Germany on Cyrenaica and then Tripoli, which was liberated in January 1943 until the Italian colonization of Libya was ended. Consequently, the country’s independence and liberation were declared by King Idris Al-Senussi from the balcony of Al-Manar Palace in Benghazi in December 24, 1951. Soon afterwards, the formation of the “Libyan Army” was officially celebrated in August 9, 1952, relying on the first core formation in Egypt in August 9, 1940.