Syrians fleeing the violence in Lebanon face dangerous conditions upon returning to their homeland, where they face dire conditions according to recent reports from the UN and human rights organizations.
The Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR) and the UN Commission of Inquiry have raised alarms about the serious risks facing refugees who return to Syria. Many Syrians returning from Lebanon find their homes destroyed and their land either confiscated or devastated by years of war. The UN reported that more than 185,000 people, including 70% displaced Syrians, crossed the border into Syria following the recent Israeli offensive in Lebanon.
Returnees face a harsh reality in Syria targeting individuals who have evaded military conscription. The SNHR documented several cases of refugees being arrested for financial extortion or forced into military service.
Refugees returning from Lebanon described how they have to pay smugglers between $600 and $1,000 to avoid passing through regime-controlled checkpoints. “Returning to Syria means facing arrest, torture, or forced conscription,” they said. “Many of us are left with no choice but to turn to smugglers, risking everything to avoid the regime.” For most Syrian refugees areas under Assad’s control remain fraught with dangers.
The UN Commission of Inquiry (COI) expressed deep concern over the plight of Syrians returning from Lebanon, warning that they are vulnerable to arbitrary detention, torture, forced recruitment, and other abuses. The Commission also pointed to the lack of adequate humanitarian assistance, with Syria’s humanitarian response plan funded at only 25%, leaving displaced civilians in dire need.
“Returnees are going back to homes that have been destroyed, with damaged infrastructure and disrupted basic services,” said Rula Amin, UNHCR Communications Advisor. “Many have no access to shelter or even food, and some families are physically and psychologically exhausted after years of displacement.”
The Syrian Negotiating Commission and the Syrian National Coalition have called on the UNHCR to provide international protection for refugees returning from Lebanon, noting that they are exposed to “systematic attacks” and exploitation by the Assad regime. Groups have urged the international community to step in to prevent further abuses and violations.
The escalating conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon has displaced an estimated one million people, including 152,000 Syrians, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
The UNHCR has reported that 60% of Syrian returnees are children and adolescents, many of whom are arriving without identification papers, making it difficult for them to access services or receive legal assistance. The agency is working to support those crossing back into Syria but has stressed that the humanitarian situation is deteriorating rapidly. “The suffering of these displaced individuals does not end when they cross the border,” said Amin. “Many are returning to nothing, facing a long road to recovery in a country still ravaged by conflict.”
