Syrian Refugee returns home after Assad’s Fall, faces uncertain future

Tears streamed down Ahmed al-Kassem’s face as he embraced his sister for the first time in over a decade. His return to Syria from Turkey, after the fall of President Bashar al-Assad, was filled with both joy and uncertainty.

The 38-year-old former refugee brought his wife and five children back to Aleppo, a city still scarred by years of war. But the reality awaiting them was harsh: his old house was too damaged to live in, and his sister’s home had no electricity or running water.

“If I had known, I don’t know if I would have come,” al-Kassem told Amnewsworld. “Our life in Turkey was not perfect, but what we are seeing here is a disaster.”

Al-Kassem is among over 7,600 Syrian refugees who, according to Turkish officials, have crossed back into Syria since December 9, when insurgents swept Assad from power. Many more have returned from Lebanon, hopeful about rebuilding their lives in a newly liberated Syria.

For al-Kassem’s family, leaving Turkey meant abandoning the life they had built over 11 years. Four of his children were born in Turkey and only knew Syria through video chats. Returning offered them a chance to reconnect with their heritage and relatives.

“When I saw my country liberated, I returned with my children to introduce them to our homeland,” al-Kassem said. “But they didn’t expect this situation.”

The family crossed into Syria at the Bab al-Salameh border, transferring their belongings—including a carpet and washing machine into local vehicles before heading to Aleppo’s Masaken Hanano district. By nightfall, they arrived at al-Kassem’s sister’s house, where the family reunited in an emotional moment.

However, the joy was short-lived. The house lacked basic utilities, and the children were sent to a relative’s home with sporadic electricity and water.

“In Turkey, we had water, electricity, and the internet all life’s essentials,” al-Kassem said. “Here, we’ve been without water for days. I don’t know where I will go with my children.”

Aleppo, once Syria’s largest city and economic hub, remains deeply scarred. Though some residents have started rebuilding, large portions of the city, particularly in the eastern districts, are still in ruins. Streets are crowded with people celebrating Assad’s ousting, but poverty and infrastructure challenges remain.

In Aleppo’s historic Old City, the revolutionary flag now flies above the iconic castle. Families, like that of Huzam Jbara from Idlib, visited the site to celebrate Syria’s new chapter.

“We are very happy. We got rid of the tyrant who killed and oppressed his people,” Jbara said.

Al-Kassem visited his old home in Masaken Hanano. Its windows were shattered, and all belongings had been looted. Yet, despite the challenges, he remains determined to adapt to life in Aleppo.

“It is still my homeland, my home, and our people are here,” he said, reflecting on the hardships ahead.

His eldest daughter, 14-year-old Rawiya, shared mixed feelings. Though happy to reunite with relatives, she worries about adjusting to Arabic schooling after years in Turkish schools.

“It will be difficult for me to start learning Arabic from zero,” Rawiya said. “Despite this, I’m happy to be in Syria.”

For al-Kassem and thousands like him, returning to Syria is a leap into the unknown. As they navigate life in a country rebuilding itself, the challenges ahead will test their resilience.