Libya has officially begun exempting Syrian nationals from taxes, a decision that coincides with the resumption of regular flights between Damascus and Tripoli, set to begin next Thursday.
The move was confirmed by Omar Al-Hassri, head of Syria’s Civil Aviation Authority, who said the weekly round-trip service marks a renewed step in cooperation between the two countries.
In a statement shared on the Syrian state broadcaster’s X account, Al-Hassri apologized for the delay, explaining that priority was given to finalizing the tax exemption for Syrians in Libya.
He confirmed that, following coordination with the Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the exemption is now in full effect.
Earlier this week, Damascus International Airport received a flight from Libya carrying returning Syrian nationals. The return was arranged by Syria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, according to a report by the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA). The resumed air link is expected to offer much-needed mobility for Syrians in Libya, many of whom are migrant workers or members of the Syrian community.
However, while diplomatic and logistical ties are improving, families of missing or detained Syrians in Libya continue to express growing concern. On Wednesday, residents of Syria’s Daraa province organized a protest demanding information about their missing relatives.
Demonstrators called on both Syrian authorities and international human rights organizations to intervene and clarify the fate of those held or missing in Libya. Many families have received no communication for months and say that appeals to the United Nations and other bodies have gone unanswered.
The new flight route and tax exemptions are seen as part of broader efforts to ease the burden on Syrians living abroad. But for many families, such measures offer little comfort while loved ones remain unaccounted for. Rights groups have also raised concerns about conditions for detainees in Libya and the lack of transparency from authorities.
