Return of Syrian refugees from Turkey continues

The voluntary return of Syrians to their country has continued through the Öncüpınar crossing in Turkey's Kilis province, opposite the Bab al-Salam crossing in Syria's Aleppo province, since the overthrow of the Bashar al-Assad regime in late 2024.

The Öncüpınar crossing is one of the Turkish land crossings with Syria used by Syrian refugees for voluntary return to their country.

Vehicles and buses from the Turkish Immigration Department's mobile service unit at the crossing facilitate the exit procedures for returning Syrians.

In an interview with Anadolu Agency, Subhi Nino, 60, said he and his family were forced to seek refuge in Turkey 11 years ago due to the Assad regime's systematic bombing of civilians.

Nino expressed his gratitude to the Turkish people and government for hosting Syrian refugees throughout the years of war. He said with joy mixed with longing for his homeland, "The war in Syria is over, and now we are returning to our homeland. May God bless Turkey."

For his part, Muhammad Hamou, 37, expressed his gratitude to the Turkish people for hosting Syrians throughout the Assad regime's war against its people.

According to a mid-April publication by the Immigration Department, the number of Syrians under temporary protection in Turkey reached 2,782,733, while the total number of foreign residents, including Syrians under protection, reached 4,043,215.

In late December 2024, Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced a series of measures related to the voluntary and honorable return of Syrians residing in Turkey, to facilitate their return to their country.

Last Monday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced the return of 200,000 Syrians from Turkey to their country since the fall of the Assad regime on December 8, 2024.

Erdoğan noted the acceleration of the rate of Syrian returnees from Turkey as the situation in their country improves, indicating that Syria is moving toward recovery despite the difficulties, obstacles, and acts of sabotage.

Anadolu Agency