When the civil war in Syria threatened his village over a decade ago, a farmer and his family fled to neighboring Lebanon. The farmer, Ali Kheir Khallu, 37, found work growing oranges and bananas in Lebanon. Although life was challenging, he felt safe there.
That sense of security diminished last month as Israel intensified its conflict with Hezbollah, leading to heavy bombings in Lebanon. Following nearby explosions, Mr. Kheir Khallu packed up his family, abandoned their new lives in Lebanon, and returned to Syria, where they now face the difficulties of starting over once again. “You want to make up for all that you have lost,” he remarked. “But you are still in shock.”
As the war in Lebanon escalates, more than 1.2 million people—about one-fifth of the population—have been displaced from their homes, according to government reports. While many sought refuge in other parts of Lebanon, over 470,000 individuals, primarily Syrians, have crossed back into Syria in the past six weeks, according to aid organizations.
Since the onset of the Syrian civil war in 2011, President Bashar al-Assad has fought to maintain power, utilizing bombing and sieges against opposition areas and employing chemical weapons. The conflict has attracted various international actors, including Russia and the United States, resulting in the displacement of approximately 12 million individuals, or over half of Syria’s population.
Over 1.1 million Syrians are registered as refugees in Lebanon, living in poverty and facing hostility from local communities. Some refugees have chosen to return to Syria, believing it offers a safer environment despite the challenges posed by the country’s devastated economy and ongoing human rights issues. Mr. al-Assad’s government maintains control over most major cities, while other areas are governed by Turkish-backed groups or Kurdish militias.
Human Rights Watch has recently cautioned that returning Syrians may confront repression from the government, including risks of forced disappearance and torture. Mr. Kheir Khallu and other returning refugees spoke about their experiences in the village of al-Rai in northern Syria, during an organized visit by Turkish authorities.
His uncle, Abdel-Majid Dahdou, 48, also returned from Lebanon, sharing that the war and time have significantly changed their village, Celame. His home was damaged by shelling and looted, forcing him to borrow essentials for his family. Although Turkey now supports local security and services, the new authorities do not recognize his Syrian government identity card, complicating his efforts to enroll his children in school and access basic utilities.
Other returning Syrians have faced similar challenges. Mohammed Najjar, 42, left his home and business in Azaz in 2013 for Lebanon, where he worked in various jobs but stopped receiving aid years ago. As work dwindled in Lebanon amid an economic crisis, he decided to return home for safety.
Najjar returned with his brother’s wife, Hamida Brimo, who had lived in Lebanon since age 10. Now a mother of three, she expressed uncertainty about her family's future in Syria, especially since her husband did not accompany them due to fears of military conscription. “We came back, but we don’t know how our lives here will be,” she stated. “We have to return and start over.”