A Syrian family prepares to enter Syria from Türkiye under the escort of Turkish immigration workers at the Cilvegozu Border Gate in Reyhanli district of Hatay, Türkiye, Sept. 29, 2025. Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said on Monday that a total of 509,387 Syrians have returned to their country through the voluntary return process following the fall of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime in December 2024. (Mustafa Kaya/Handout via Xinhua)
ANKARA, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said on Monday that a total of 509,387 Syrians have returned to their country through the voluntary return process following the fall of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime in December 2024.
Türkiye continues to stand by Syrians during their voluntary return, Yerlikaya wrote on the social media platform X, adding that returns have accelerated following recent developments in Syria.
According to him, nearly 1,250,000 Syrians have voluntarily returned to their homeland since 2016.
He pointed out that one of the main centers facilitating these returns is the Voluntary Return Coordination Center in the Saricam district of southern Adana province, where Syrians complete their procedures before heading home.
Millions of Syrians fled their country following the outbreak of civil war in 2011. Türkiye, which shares a long border with Syria, hosts approximately 2.7 million Syrian refugees, according to official figures released in May. ■
Syrian children prepare to enter Syria from Türkiye under the escort of Turkish immigration workers at the Cilvegozu Border Gate in Reyhanli district of Hatay, Türkiye, Sept. 29, 2025. Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said on Monday that a total of 509,387 Syrians have returned to their country through the voluntary return process following the fall of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime in December 2024. (Mustafa Kaya/Handout via Xinhua)
