Erdogan Vows to Send Back 1 Million Syrian Refugees Voluntarily

 Erdogan addresses a parliament session on Saturday, October 1, 2022. (AFP)
Erdogan addresses a parliament session on Saturday, October 1, 2022. (AFP)
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Erdogan Vows to Send Back 1 Million Syrian Refugees Voluntarily

 Erdogan addresses a parliament session on Saturday, October 1, 2022. (AFP)
Erdogan addresses a parliament session on Saturday, October 1, 2022. (AFP)

Türkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reiterated on Sunday his pledge to send back a million Syrian refugees on a voluntary basis.

“Since the start of our cross-border operations in Syria (in 2016), about 526,000 volunteers have returned to the safety zones that we established,” Erdogan told the Turkish parliament.

He said that Ankara aims to encourage them to return to “safe zones” on the Türkiye -Syria border by building them housing and local infrastructure.

There are 3.7 million Syrian refugees officially living in Türkiye.

Ankara launched a project to build 250,000 houses in Idlib, in cooperation with civil society organizations.

Erdogan called on the international community to continue funding housing and infrastructure projects in northwestern Syria, which is controlled by Türkiye and the opposition factions loyal to it.

Less than nine months from presidential elections, the refugees’ presence in the country has become a thorny political issue, especially as Türkiye battles an economic and monetary crisis.

Opposition parties regularly call on authorities to send millions of Syrians home.

Separately, many business owners in Türkiye have demanded keeping Syrian workers in the country, given the problems that resulted from the departure of thousands of Syrians, whether those who returned voluntarily to their country or sought refuge in Europe.

Recent studies revealed a shortage of manpower in various sectors in the country.

The study cited complaints that Turkish workers do not accept the salaries Syrians were taking.

It further pointed out that most Syrians accept to work without social or health insurance, which reduces the financial burden on business owners.

Syrians residing in Türkiye have recently launched social media campaigns to head to Europe against the backdrop of the rising hate speech against them in the country.



Syrian Defense Ministry Announces Completion of Military Operations Against Assad Loyalists

Members of the Syrian Security Forces stop vehicles at a checkpoint following violence that occurred in the previous days during clashes between government forces and supporters of the former Syrian regime, in Jableh town of Latakia, Syria, 09 March 2025. (EPA)
Members of the Syrian Security Forces stop vehicles at a checkpoint following violence that occurred in the previous days during clashes between government forces and supporters of the former Syrian regime, in Jableh town of Latakia, Syria, 09 March 2025. (EPA)
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Syrian Defense Ministry Announces Completion of Military Operations Against Assad Loyalists

Members of the Syrian Security Forces stop vehicles at a checkpoint following violence that occurred in the previous days during clashes between government forces and supporters of the former Syrian regime, in Jableh town of Latakia, Syria, 09 March 2025. (EPA)
Members of the Syrian Security Forces stop vehicles at a checkpoint following violence that occurred in the previous days during clashes between government forces and supporters of the former Syrian regime, in Jableh town of Latakia, Syria, 09 March 2025. (EPA)

A Syrian military operation against loyalists of ousted former President Bashar al-Assad has been completed, the defense ministry said on Monday. 

Hassan Abdul Ghany, the defense ministry spokesperson, said in a statement on X that public institutions were now able to resume their work and provide essential services. 

"We are paving the way for life to return to normal and for the consolidation of security and stability," he said. 

He added that plans were in place to continue combating the remnants of the former government and eliminate any future threats. 

Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa vowed on Sunday to hunt down the perpetrators of the violent clashes and said he would hold to account anyone who overstepped the new rulers' authority. 

Al-Sharaa's office also said it was forming an independent committee to investigate the clashes and killings carried out by both sides. 

Abdul Ghany added that the security forces would cooperate with the investigation committee, offering full access to uncover the circumstances of the events, verify the facts and ensure justice for the wronged. 

"We were able to absorb the attacks from the remnants of the former regime and its officers. We shattered their element of surprise and managed to push them away from vital centers, securing most of the main roads," he said. 

Syrian security sources said over the weekend more than 300 of their members had been killed in clashes with former army personnel owing allegiance to Assad in coordinated attacks and ambushes on their forces that began on Thursday.  

Syria's state news agency SANA reported on Sunday that a mass grave had been discovered near Qardaha, Assad's hometown, containing the bodies of recently killed security forces.  

The attacks spiraled into revenge killings when thousands of armed supporters of Syria's new leaders from across the country descended to the coastal areas to support beleaguered forces of the new administration.