Turkey Reports Surge in Syrian Refugee Returns Following Assad's Ouster

Over 25,000 Syrians have returned from Turkey in two weeks, as new policies and political shifts reshape migration dynamics.

More than 25,000 Syrian refugees have returned from Turkey to Syria in the past two weeks, a sevenfold increase from typical return rates since 2017, according to Turkish officials.
The returns follow the December 8 overthrow of Bashar al-Assad, with Turkey reestablishing diplomatic ties with Syria, including reopening its embassy in Damascus and a consulate in Aleppo.
Turkey has introduced new policies allowing one member of each Syrian refugee family to travel between the two countries up to three times in the first half of 2025 to facilitate preparations for resettlement.
The Turkish government, under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has pushed for the return of Syrian refugees, citing widespread anti-refugee sentiment and ongoing political pressure.
Turkey continues to host approximately 2.92 million Syrian refugees, with half under the age of 18, despite its goal of significantly reducing this population in the near future.