After the toppling of President Bashar Assad, some Syrian refugees are returning to their homeland from exile abroad. DW accompanies three returnees trying to rebuild their lives and their country.
Since the toppling of President Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, Syrian refugees and the internally displaced are gradually returning to their homes. Many are encountering huge challenges in the process. Returning to Syria is difficult as many homes have been destroyed, the infrastructure is ailing, and a severe economic crisis is hampering the nation's recovery. The country's political outlook remains uncertain.
We meet three individuals who have nevertheless taken the courageous decision to go back home: Fatima Zahraa came back to Aleppo to raise her children in a familiar culture, while Amr Yakan gave up a secure life in Canada to rebuild his ancestors' mosque. After losing his family in the 2023 earthquake, filmmaker Fadi al-Khatib returned to Damascus in 2025, determined to continue realizing his brother's dream.
Despite the destruction and deprivation, these Syrians choose hope over exile and are rebuilding not only houses, but also their identity. Their stories illustrate the emotional complexity involved in returning to a country still etched by conflict.
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Author: Mohamad Chreyteh
First published: November 16, 2025
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Source: dw.com