Alexander Dobrindt, the German Interior Minister from the CSU, said he expects Syrian President Abdel Fattah Al‑Sarra to visit Berlin soon. “I believe the visit will be made in the near future” Dobrindt told the news magazine Focus at an event in Munich. A meeting between Al‑Sarra and Chancellor Friedrich Merz had originally been scheduled for January, with the main focus on possible repatriations.
Despite the Syrian government’s request for patience regarding deportations, Dobrindt remains firm on sending people back to their homeland. He emphasized, “We are tightly coordinating with the Syrians. There are close contacts on both technical and political levels, so everything is discussed reasonably. I see no contradiction”. Dobrindt also confirmed that Germany would provide support for those deported. He said that return packages would include prospects for individuals in Syria, addressing questions such as housing and integration.
In early February, the Syrian foreign ministry expressed concerns about large‑scale deportations to Syria. “We ask Germany to understand the plight of Syrian refugees and give us more time for reconstruction” said Mohammed Yaqub al‑Omar, the director of consular affairs, to Focus. He warned that returning thousands of Syrians could worsen the humanitarian crisis and force many to live in refugee camps. He noted that, because of destroyed homes, schools, roads, and a lack of electricity, many Syrians had fled their own country, with approximately 1.5 million people in the north living in tent camps according to his estimate.
The coalition agreement between the Union and the SPD called for the return of Syrians-starting with criminals and security threats. In December 2025, the first Syrian was flown back to Damascus aboard a commercial flight with the Bundespolizei. Subsequent deportations have followed since then. Since the beginning of 2025, about 3,700 Syrians have permanently returned home with government assistance, according to the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees.
