But such research was conducted while Assad was still in power, and it has only been several weeks since Assad fell. As a result, it’s unclear how many Syrians will decide to go back. After all, the current government is transitional, and the country is not fully unified.

Astro AWANI's Social Media Editor, Hilal Azmi shares his reflections from the ground in Aleppo, Syria, following the fall of Bashar al-Assad.

Some European Union sanctions against Syria are being lifted, France's foreign minister said on Monday, as part of a broader EU move to help stabilise Damascus after the ousting of President Bashar al-Assad in December.

Once Syria's most influential minority, Alawites struggle to move on from their association with a hated dictator.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said she expected the bloc to agree Monday to begin easing sanctions on Syria after the ouster of Bashar al-Assad. “It is a step for step approach,” Kallas said at the start of a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels to discuss the move.