SHOTLIST:

LEBANON (NOVEMBER 6, 2025) (ANADOLU - ACCESS ALL)

1. VARIOUS OF SYRIAN REFUGEES’ VOLUNTARY RETURN PROCESS

2. UNHCR REPRESENTATIVE THERESA FREIHA SPEAKING TO REPORTER (Arabic)

3. VARIOUS OF SYRIAN REFUGEES COMPLETING VOLUNTARY RETURN PROCEDURES

4. VARIOUS OF SYRIAN REFUGEES BOARDING BUSES / BUSES DEPARTING
TRIPOLI, LEBANON - NOVEMBER 6, 2025: Nearly 440 Syrian refugees returned to their home country from Lebanon on Thursday, Nov. 6, under the eighth phase of the Beirut’s voluntary repatriation program.

The departure was coordinated by Lebanon’s General Security Directorate in cooperation with the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR). Refugees gathered in the northern city of Tripoli before being transported by bus to the Arida border crossing on the Syrian frontier.

UNHCR representative Theresa Freiha told Anadolu that 440 Syrians were processed for return in this phase. She noted that, following the collapse of the Assad regime, the pace of returns from Lebanon has accelerated, with 332,000 Syrians returning to their country so far this year.

In June, the Lebanese government unveiled a multi-phase plan to facilitate the voluntary return of Syrians to their homeland.

Lebanon estimates that it hosts around 1.8 million Syrian refugees, including approximately 880,000 registered with UNHCR.

Syrian President Ahmad Al-Sharaa has expressed hope that most Syrians living abroad will return within the next two years.