Syrian Ahmed Al-Sheikh, who returned to his homeland from neighbouring Turkey after the fall of Bashar al-Assad, plays with his children at a park near damaged buildings in Aleppo, Syria January 25, 2025. REUTERS/Karam al-Masri
ISTANBUL/ALEPPO (Reuters) - Ahmed al-Sheikh's excitement at returning to his homeland from neighbouring Turkey after the fall of Bashar al-Assad has turned to bitter disappointment at the grim living conditions in Syria after some 13 years of war.
Sheikh is one of 35,000 Syrians who left Turkey for Syria full of hope in the first three weeks after Assad was toppled on Dec. 8, giving up the right to come back to Turkey after signing a voluntary return document.
