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ANALYSIS

With the sanctions lifted, is the return of Syrian refugees possible?

Lebanon pushes for swift refugee return — but Syria remains unprepared.

With the sanctions lifted, is the return of Syrian refugees possible?

Syrian refugees are talking before getting into the truck departing for Syria, on April 16, 2025. (Credit: Mohammad Yassine/L’Orient Today.)

The decision to lift U.S. and European sanctions imposed against Syria initially sparked enthusiasm among the Lebanese, who saw it as a step towards the return of Syrian refugees to their country.But, this prospect appears unrealistic given the inherent complexities of this issue. Currently, a major problem facing the new Syrian authorities is an economic crisis due to extensive destruction across all sectors over the past 14 years of civil war.Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa has reportedly often reiterated to Lebanese officials that he lacks the means to house the displaced internally, much less to feed them. Although he does not refuse the principle of their return — unlike his predecessor, Bashar al-Assad — Sharaa is simply trying to buy time. To date, 151,688 refugees out of more than 1.5 million have returned to Syria after the...
The decision to lift U.S. and European sanctions imposed against Syria initially sparked enthusiasm among the Lebanese, who saw it as a step towards the return of Syrian refugees to their country.But, this prospect appears unrealistic given the inherent complexities of this issue. Currently, a major problem facing the new Syrian authorities is an economic crisis due to extensive destruction across all sectors over the past 14 years of civil war.Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa has reportedly often reiterated to Lebanese officials that he lacks the means to house the displaced internally, much less to feed them. Although he does not refuse the principle of their return — unlike his predecessor, Bashar al-Assad — Sharaa is simply trying to buy time. To date, 151,688 refugees out of more than 1.5 million have returned to Syria after...
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