Thousands of Syrian refugees return home as post-Assad peace takes hold

With the collapse of the Assad regime and growing stability in Syria, thousands of displaced civilians are returning from refugee camps to rebuild their lives amid widespread devastation.

After years of displacement and hardship, thousands of Syrians have begun returning to their homeland following the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime and the return of relative peace and security across much of the country.

Millions of Syrians had fled the war-torn nation over the past decade, seeking refuge in neighboring countries amid a deepening humanitarian crisis under the Assad government. But now, with the end of the Baath Party’s decades-long rule and the departure of Assad to Russia in December, many are making the difficult journey home.

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

Though much of Kafar Sijnah lies in ruins after years of regime bombardment, Rahmon said he plans to pitch a tent on the rubble of his former home — a symbol of resilience and determination to reclaim his homeland.

Al-Rezzaq Mohammed, another returnee, recounted the years of hardship he and his family endured after fleeing Syria in 2019. “We have suffered a lot amid harsh weather conditions and a lack of infrastructure,” he said. “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.”

Mohammed noted that every house in the village had been damaged or destroyed, either by airstrikes or post-conflict looting. Still, he said, the joy of returning home outweighs the pain of the destruction.

In January, Ahmad al-Sharaa, a prominent figure in the anti-regime movement, was declared Syria’s transitional president. His leadership has ushered in a new phase of hope and reconstruction for the country, marking the end of nearly 25 years of Assad’s rule and six decades of Baath Party dominance.

While the path to full recovery remains long, many Syrians are choosing to rebuild their lives where they began — on the soil they never stopped calling home.

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