Jordan’s Minister of Interior, Mazen Al-Faraya, announced that approximately 97,000 Syrian refugees have returned voluntarily from Jordan to Syria since the beginning of this year, local media reported.

Until recently, Jordan hosted around 1.3mn Syrians, including registered refugees and others who arrived since the civil war began in 2011. The influx of refugees has significantly burdened Jordan’s economy. Public services—especially education and healthcare—are under strain, and infrastructure costs have risen. Jordan’s limited resources are stretched further as international funding decreases; in 2023, only about 29% of the required funding was met, compounding fiscal stress on the resource-poor Levantine country.

He announced the inauguration of the Integrated Border Management Operations Room at the Jaber border crossing with Syria, Al-Faraya highlighted the significant movement of travellers and cargo in recent weeks.

He noted that the Jaber crossing witnessed its busiest period ahead of Eid al-Adha since its reopening since the reopening of operations following the establishment of the post-war Syrian government led by the Turkish-backed administration of Ahmed al-Sharaa.

According to Jordan’s Al Mamlaka TV on July 4, Al-Faraya described the operations centre as an essential step in enhancing border management and facilitating safe movement across the border.

The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) confirmed separately that nearly 100,000 Syrians have returned voluntarily from Jordan between December 8, 2024 and June 30, 2025. The agency anticipates an increase in the pace of returns in the coming months as conditions gradually improve in certain parts of Syria.

The UNHCR confirmed that all returns are voluntary and continues to support refugees with information and assistance to ensure safe and dignified repatriation.

Jordanian authorities have stressed that all returns should be conducted safely, voluntarily, and with dignity. At the same time, ongoing efforts aim to support both those still residing in Jordan and those attempting to re-establish their lives in Syria.

The announcement by Jordan comes as European countries are slowly preparing to return failed Syrian asylum seekers in recent days with Asutria being the first EU nation to send a Syrian back to Damascus on a flight. 

The deported individual was a Syrian man whose asylum status had been revoked due to a criminal conviction. Austrian authorities have since said this action is part of a stricter asylum policy, and they have signaled that more deportations will follow in the coming weeks as the process of repatriation ramps up.