Thousands of Syrian refugees return to Syria after Assad’s fall

IDLIB, Syria / ISTANBUL

After years of suffering and hardship in refugee camps, thousands of Syrian civilians began to return to their home country as peace and security continued to prevail in Syria following the collapse of the Bashar al-Assad regime.

Millions of Syrians have fled the country to neighboring states to seek safety amid mass destruction and an aggravating humanitarian crisis under Assad.

“We lived in extremely harsh conditions in refugee camps. But now we thank God that our land was liberated,” said Mohammad Rahmon, who returned after six years abroad to the village of Kafar Sijnah, south of the Idlib countryside.

“We are returning to our home country even if it was destroyed.”

Although the regime's strikes widely destroyed the village, Rahmon plans to build his tent on the rubble of his house as an expression of commitment to his country.

Al-Rezzaq Mohammed, another resident of Kafar Sijnah, said they went through great suffering in the refugee camps since they had to flee Syria in 2019.

“We have suffered a lot amid harsh weather conditions and a lack of infrastructure,” said Mohammed.

“Now we are returning to our village despite the destruction. Because no matter how hard life is in the village, it is more dignified than the life of displacement,” he said.

Mohammed said that all houses in the village were destroyed, some by strikes and bombardments, while others were damaged by looting and deliberate destruction.

“However, the pleasure and the joy of returning overshadowed the sorrows of the destruction,” he added.

Assad, Syria’s leader for nearly 25 years, fled to Russia in December, ending the Baath Party regime, which had been in power since 1963.

Ahmad al-Sharaa, who led anti-regime forces to oust Assad, was declared president for a transitional period in late January.