Syrian government calls on refugees to return home

DAMASCUS, (Patria) - The Syrian government has called on refugees to return to the country, stating that it has successfully cleared large parts of the territory of "terrorists", the state agency SANA reported.

This call reflects the government's growing confidence after more than seven years of war, according to the AP agency.

This is the first official call to Syrians published through state media, reports Beta.

Syrian government forces, with crucial support from Russia and Iran, have recently retaken large parts of the territory near the capital Damascus and are now leading a new offensive in the south, which, according to United Nations officials, has displaced more than 270,000 people.

The government currently controls 61 percent of Syria, compared to the beginning of 2017 when only 17 percent of the territory was in government hands, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which monitors the conflict.

The government calls all rebels terrorists.

More than 5.6 million Syrians have fled the country. The Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs states that many internally displaced persons have already returned home and has called on refugees to do the same.

According to AP, many Syrians cannot return because their homes have been destroyed in the fighting, or because they fear being called up for military service, as well as due to fear of retaliation from government forces.