Hope and hardship have driven Syrian refugee returns – but many head back to destroyed homes, land disputes

By: Sandra Joireman, University of Richmond, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: December 5, 2025

Words: 1,235

Last Updated: 1 month ago

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By Sandra Joireman, University of Richmond

Close to 1.5 million Syrian refugees have voluntarily returned to their home country over the past year.

That extraordinary figure represents nearly one-quarter of all Syrians who fled fighting during the 13-year civil war to live abroad. It is also a strikingly fast pace for a country where insecurity persists across broad regions.

The scale and speed of these returns since the overthrow of Bashar Assad’s …

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