‘Opening a new chapter’: Syria reopens embassy in Libya after talks

What the report says

Syria and Libya have agreed to reopen Syria’s embassy in Tripoli and revive a joint committee for managing bilateral ties, following talks in the Libyan capital between Libya’s Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah and Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani. According to Al Jazeera’s report, the visit took place on Sunday and was part of a broader effort to reset relations between Damascus and Tripoli after years of disruption.

The agreement also includes opening a Syrian consulate in Benghazi, expanding diplomatic representation between the two sides. The talks touched on security cooperation, counterterrorism, consular services, and issues involving prisoners, detainees and refugees. Officials also discussed outstanding financial matters between Libyan and Syrian institutions, along with possible cooperation in energy and investment.

Al Jazeera reported that the Syrian embassy in Libya has been closed since 2012, when relations were cut during the rule of Bashar al-Assad after Libya’s then transitional authorities recognized the Syrian opposition. The embassy’s reopening comes after Assad’s removal in December 2024, which ended decades of Baath Party rule in Syria. A Syrian delegation had already raised the post-Assad flag at the Tripoli mission in August 2025, indicating the move was nearing completion.

Dbeibah described the meeting as the start of a “new chapter” in relations, framing the diplomatic step as one based on practical cooperation and unresolved issues.