Syrians in Türkiye continue to return home through border crossings

By Lale Koklu Karagoz, Mehmet Bayrak and Serkan Avci

HATAY, Türkiye (AA) - Syrians who sought refuge in Türkiye during the 13-year civil war are continuing to return home on Tuesday following the collapse of the 61-year Baath Party regime.

They are crossing through the Cilvegozu, Yayladagi, and Zeytindali border gates in Türkiye's southeastern province of Hatay, bordering northern Syria.

At the Cilvegozu Border Gate in Reyhanli, Syrians wait in orderly lines for customs procedures, guided by corridors set up by gendarmerie forces to maintain order.

Teams from the provincial migration office assist returnees in transporting their belongings, including clothes and household items, using wheeled carts.

Once customs procedures are complete, Syrians cross the border, with priority given to women and children.

The Turkish Red Crescent and other aid organizations are distributing hot soup and refreshments to families and personnel at the crossings.

Mobile service units of the Directorate General of Migration Management stationed at the border crossings are also helping to speed up the departure processes.

Betul Esumen, who is traveling back to Idlib province with eight family members, said she is leaving Türkiye after five years to reunite with her extended family.

“I will return to my studies back home,” she said. “I want to be a doctor and help people. Leaving Türkiye is hard because I made good friends here.”

Halil Abdullah, who is crossing through the Yayladagi Border Gate with his wife and two children, said he had lived in Mersin, a port city in southern Türkiye, after fleeing Syria.

“I never had any problems in Türkiye,” Abdullah said. “I’m thankful to Türkiye and its people. After 14 years, I’m going home. Türkiye has been good to us, but home is home.”

During the Syrian civil war, some 4 million Syrians took shelter in Türkiye, more than any other country in the world.

Bashar Assad, who ruled Syria for nearly 25 years, fled to Russia on Dec. 8 after anti-regime groups seized control of Damascus.

The takeover followed a swift, two-week offensive by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) fighters, who captured key cities across the country.