TRIPOLI: The United Nations’ migration agency on Thursday said it had flown home 152 Syrians from Libya, in the first such flight from the North African country this year.
The International Organization for Migration “on Wednesday facilitated the voluntary return of 152 Syrians in vulnerable situations from Libya to Damascus,” the agency said in a statement.
This marked “the first Voluntary Humanitarian Return (VHR) flight to Syria organized by IOM since the beginning of 2025,” it added.
War since 2011 had devastated Syria, displacing millions both inside the country and abroad.
Over one million Syrian refugees have returned from abroad since the fall of longtime ruler Bashar Assad last December, according to the UN.
The IOM said Wednesday’s flight came “at the request of the Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.”
It said it has been “expanding its operations and services in Syria with the primary objective of supporting the country’s recovery after years of conflict and ensuring dignified and sustainable returns of Syrians.”
Direct weekly flights between Damascus and Tripoli, which have been suspended for over a decade, are set to resume next week, according to Syria’s aviation authority.
Libya is a key transit country for thousands of migrants seeking to reach Europe by sea each year.
In August, the Syrian embassy in Tripoli reopened, after having been shut down since 2012, though it has been reported that it has not resumed consular services or full diplomatic representation.
152 Syrians flown home from Libya: UN migration agency
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152 Syrians flown home from Libya: UN migration agency
- IOM “on Wednesday facilitated the voluntary return of 152 Syrians in vulnerable situations from Libya to Damascus“
- Direct weekly flights between Damascus and Tripoli are set to resume next week
Lebanon warns Israeli violations threaten stability as UN peacekeepers enter final phase of mission
- UN envoy accuses Israel of jeopardizing ‘hard-won progress’ by undermining Lebanese sovereignty and territorial integrity through airstrikes and border violations
- He says Lebanon’s army commander has presented to ministers his second progress report on a plan to extend state authority country-wide and limit weapons to state control
NEW YORK CITY: Lebanon has warned that Israeli airstrikes and border violations risk undermining progress toward achieving stability in southern Lebanon, as the UN peacekeeping mission in the country begins preparations for its withdrawal.
Speaking before the UN General Assembly’s Fourth Committee, Lebanon’s permanent representative to the organization, Ahmad Arafa, welcomed the recent renewal of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon’s mandate under Security Council Resolution 2790. This authorized the extension of the force’s operations until Dec. 31, 2026, followed by an “orderly, safe and coordinated” drawdown within a year.
“The Lebanese Armed Forces have been working tirelessly to ensure full implementation of Resolution 1701,” Arafa said, referring to the 2006 resolution that ended the war that year between Israel and Hezbollah.
It calls for the disarmament of all militias in Lebanon, including Hezbollah. The US has consistently pressured Lebanese authorities to disarm the group, designating it a terrorist organization.
The November 2024 ceasefire deal with Israel also requires Lebanon to disarm Hezbollah and establish a state monopoly on arms. The agreement states that only state security forces should bear arms, which is interpreted by Israel and others as requiring the full disarmament of Hezbollah. The group insists it applies only to southern Lebanon.
Arafa said the commander of the Lebanese army has presented to the Council of Ministers his second progress report on a plan to extend state authority throughout the country and confine possession of weapons to legitimate state institutions.
However, he accused Israel of jeopardizing the “hard-won progress” that has been made, through what he described as ongoing violations of Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, including airstrikes, the continued occupation of Lebanese territory, and the creation of “so-called buffer zones.”
UNIFIL spokesperson Dany Ghafri said last week that Israel had carried out more than 7,000 airspace violations since the cessation of hostilities in November last year, Arafa noted. UNIFIL has warned that the airstrikes breach Resolution 1701, “threaten the safety of civilians, and undermine progress toward a political and diplomatic solution,” he added
Lebanon also condemned Israeli attacks on UNIFIL personnel and positions, describing them as “a blatant violation of international law.”
Arafa expressed gratitude to the leadership of the UN force, and the countries that contribute troops, for their “dedication and sacrifice” since the mission was established in 1978. He called for the avoidance of any “security vacuum” during the upcoming transitional period, while maintaining stability and respect for Lebanon’s sovereignty.
