Libyan civil war: fighter pilot released in prisoner swap deal between national army, militias

CAIRO - 27 December 2022: Fighter Pilot Amer al-Geqm, who is affiliated to the Libyan National Army (LNA), was received Tuesday by General Commander Khalifa Haftar after his release through a prisoner swap deal with the leaders of Zawya City western the country.

In exchange, the LNA, controlling the eastern part of the country, released 15 prisoners who belonged to the western section. The swap took place in Al Showeraf city in the southwestern part of the country.   

After his arrival to Benghazi, the pilot was promoted to lieutenant general from major general by Field Marshal Haftar. Geqm fell captive when his fighter jet, which was a MiG-23, crashed due a technical failure in December 2019.