500,000 Syrian refugees return since regime change
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The UNHCR says 500,000 refugees have returned to Syria since December 2024, with Trump’s pledge to lift sanctions expected to ease conditions for more returns.
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A Syrian man carries his belongings as he walks on a street in Damascus, Syria, Wednesday, May 14, 2025 (AP Photo/Omar Sanadiki)
The head of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) mission in Syria, Gonzalo Vargas Llosa, announced that approximately half a million Syrian refugees have returned to their homeland since the fall of the previous regime on December 8, 2024.
In an interview with Syria’s state-run news agency SANA on Thursday, Vargas Llosa welcomed US President Donald Trump’s pledge to lift sanctions on Syria, saying the move would "contribute to improving humanitarian conditions and facilitate the return of more refugees."
He emphasized that many refugees and internally displaced persons have expressed a desire to return to their homes now that the main reason for their displacement has been removed. He added that the majority of those who have returned so far came from neighboring countries, including Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey, Iraq, and Egypt.
“The biggest challenge facing refugee returns today is the economic situation,” Vargas Llosa said, citing the extensive destruction across all sectors of Syrian life during the past 14 years of conflict.
US starts lifting sanctions
The US Department of the Treasury has officially begun the process of lifting sanctions on Syria, marking a significant shift in US foreign policy.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed the move on social media, stating that this decision is intended to stabilize Syria and support its journey toward peace.
“The Treasury Department is moving to provide sanctions relief to stabilize and move Syria towards peace,” Bessent wrote on X, confirming the department’s intentions.
This marks a change from previous US policies that imposed strict sanctions on Syria under former President Bashar al-Assad.
The sanctions relief comes at a time when Syria is struggling with a prolonged conflict that has caused immense destruction and suffering. This decision comes amid growing international discussions on how to bring an end to the conflict, which has lasted for more than a decade.
Trump’s announcement in Saudi Arabia
On Tuesday, US President Donald Trump, during his visit to Saudi Arabia, publicly announced that the United States would lift sanctions on Syria, a decision made at the request of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
This announcement came just before the US-Gulf summit held in Riyadh, signaling a shift in US policy toward Syria and the broader Middle East. Trump had previously expressed concerns over the lack of progress in Syria's peace process, but this move is seen as a step toward facilitating dialogue and improving regional stability.
Trump’s talks with Syria’s interim President, Ahmad al-Sharaa, prior to the summit, marked a critical moment in US-Syria relations. The discussions focused on Syria’s future and the importance of international cooperation in rebuilding the country.
With the backing of Saudi Arabia, one of the most influential countries in the region, this move could help bring Syria back into the fold of regional politics, after years of isolation.
