In a moving and revealing scene, hundreds of displaced Syrians began their journey back from exile in Lebanon to Syria, forming long lines of cars at the border. The individuals, laden with luggage and belongings, thronged the Masnaa crossing, attempting to enter Syria on foot.
Among them, Issam Masri, a 68-year-old Syrian displaced from Damascus, expressed intense joy as he prepared to cross the border, saying his “happiness is indescribable and inestimable.” The mass return follows a major shift in power dynamics, as opposition fighters entered Damascus on Sunday, marking the first time they have reached the capital since 2018, when Syrian troops regained control of surrounding areas after a prolonged siege.
The night before, opposition forces had captured Homs, Syria’s third-largest city, as government troops withdrew. These rapid developments sent shockwaves through the region. In response, Lebanon announced the closure of all land crossings with Syria, except Masnaa, which connects Beirut to Damascus. Jordan also closed one of its border crossings with Syria.
This wave of return of displaced Syrians raises critical questions about rebuilding the country ravaged by years of war and disruption. The challenges facing these returning citizens are many, from finding housing and livelihoods to reintegrating into a society devastated by conflict.
While the return of these individuals marks a form of hope for the reconstruction of Syria, it also underscores the magnitude of the challenges that remain to achieve lasting peace and socio-economic stability in the region.