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The Syrian General Authority for Border Crossings and Customs announced Sunday that more than 1.26 million citizens had voluntarily returned to the country through official border crossings from December 2024 to the end of May 2025. The authority reported the total at 1,268,347 for that period, with an additional 273,412 returning during the first five months of 2026. These figures come as officials maintain facilities designed to simplify the return and resettlement process for families.
According to the authority, 736,902 returnees arrived from Turkiye, 367,444 from Lebanon, 137,239 from Jordan and 23,606 from Iraq between December 2024 and May 2025. Mazen Alloush, director of public relations at the authority, told the Qatar News Agency that among the 273,412 returnees in the first five months of 2026 were 149,185 from Lebanon and 105,767 from Turkiye. The authority listed 13,599 from Jordan and 1,705 from Iraq in the same period.
Alloush stated that the General Authority for Border Crossings and Customs continues to provide a comprehensive package of facilities for returnees. These include simplifying procedures, speeding up the processing of transactions, providing flexible travel lanes at border crossings and exempting personal, household and domestic belongings from fees. He noted that the measures reduce burdens on returning families and facilitate their resettlement inside the country.
A UNHCR report documented a sharp increase in Syrian returns following the fall of the Assad government in December 2024, with around 1.3 million Syrians returning from abroad during 2025. The UN agency has estimated that up to 1.5 million could return in 2025 under certain scenarios. UNHCR data also shows that many returns have been self-organized, with the agency monitoring a portion of them.
UNHCR surveys conducted in early 2025 found that 80 percent of Syrian refugees in neighboring countries hoped to return one day, up from 57 percent a year earlier. The same surveys indicated that 27 percent intended to return within the next 12 months. Returnees have reported pressing needs for food, employment and shelter upon arrival, according to the agency.
The authority is working to improve services for travelers and enhance operational efficiency at various border crossings, Alloush added in his remarks to QNA. He said the increase in returnees reflects growing confidence in border procedures. The director further linked the flow to a broader desire among citizens to resettle in Syria.
