ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – The planned flights to repatriate more than 170 Iraqi migrants from Libya were postponed on Thursday for the second time due to poor weather conditions and technical challenges, according to the Iraqi embassy in the country.

“Due to weather conditions in Libya and other technical reasons, it has been decided to postpone the two evacuation flights that were allocated for the voluntary return of Iraqi migrants from Libya,” Ahmed al-Sahaf, charge d’affaires of the Iraqi embassy in Tripoli, told state media.

The embassy continues its efforts “to repatriate the migrants in a manner that guarantees their safety and security,” he added.

The flights were also postponed on Wednesday due to bad weather conditions in Libya.

On Sunday, the embassy announced the allocations of two C-130 aircraft with the approval of Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani to repatriate 173 Iraqi migrants who entered Libyan territory illegally.

“The embassy has completed all legal and procedural arrangements for the return of the migrants who fell prey to human trafficking and smuggling networks," Sahaf said in a statement, noting that the Iraqi embassy has provided essential supplies to the migrants at the center for combating illegal immigration in Tripoli.

The diplomat warned that “human trafficking and smuggling networks continue to target young people,” noting that the foreign affairs ministry and Kurdistan Region’s foreign affairs department are following up on the repatriation efforts.

Many migrants trekking the perilous journey to Europe use Libyan waterways to reach Italy through smuggling routes.

The Iraqi government has routinely warned of the dangers of illegal migration, with Libya having gained popularity in recent years as a major transit hub on the journey to Europe.

In November, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said more than 1,000 people had died trying to reach Europe through the Central Mediterranean migration route in 2025.

In September and October, Baghdad and Erbil returned over 60 Kurdish migrants from Libya to the Kurdistan Region as part of broader efforts to return stranded nationals.

Over 700,000 migrants were registered in Libya last year, according to the IOM.