Erdogan Announces Reopening of Yayladagi Border Gate for Safe Return of Syrian Refugees

Erdogan Announces Reopening of Yayladagi Border Gate for Safe Return of Syrian Refugees

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has announced the reopening of the Yayladagi border gate to ensure the safe and voluntary return of millions of Syrian refugees residing in Turkey. The announcement was made on Monday, December 9, a day after Syrian rebels ousted President Bashar al-Assad in a surprise takeover of Damascus.

According to a Reuters report, the rebels' capture of Damascus on Sunday marked the end of Syria’s 13-year civil war and six decades of authoritarian rule by the Assad family. Bashar al-Assad has reportedly fled the country and taken refuge in Russia. The fall of Assad is being viewed as a major turning point for the Middle East.

Speaking after a cabinet meeting in Ankara, Erdogan said, "We are reopening the Yayladagi border gate to ensure a smooth flow and to avoid overcrowding." The Yayladagi crossing, located near northwest Syria, had been closed since 2013 due to the conflict near the border.

The Turkish president emphasized that the process of voluntary return will align with the way Turkey has managed the refugees so far. Earlier on Monday, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan stated that Turkey is committed to ensuring the safe and voluntary repatriation of Syrian refugees.

Turkey, a NATO member, has been the largest host for Syrian refugees, providing shelter to approximately 3 million Syrians who fled the civil war that began in 2011.