Scores of Syrian refugees in Lebanon approached the Masnaa border crossing on Sunday in the hopes of returning home following the collapse of the regime of Bashar al-Assad.
Videos shared on social media and Arabic-language outlets show Syrians in their hundreds driving and gathering towards the border, which the Lebanese army had partially opened to allow for Syrians to leave.
Several refugees could be seen chanting celebratory chants at the border, flashing the victory sign, waving the opposition flag and expressing their joy at being able to return now that Assad is no longer the leader of their country.
One woman told ’s Arabic-language site Al-Araby Al-Jadeed: "There are no words that can express this feeling. For the first time in 14 years, I feel safe. We can see out country now, I want to show my children their country."
At least 1,500 Syrians who lived in Lebanon have reportedly left, Al-Arabiya said earlier, though the number is expected to be higher.
Several refugees had not been to Syria for over a decade. Several clips also showed Syrians returning to their country on foot.
Meanwhile, in the capital Beirut, jubilant Syrians took the streets to celebrate the toppling of Assad, who has now reportedly fled the country but his exact location remains unconfirmed.
Assad’s fall came as rebels, led by the Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), took the Syrian capital amid their rapid offensive beginning on November 27 which saw them seize the likes of Aleppo, Hama and Homs – all key Syrian cities.
Syrians could be seen waving the opposition flag, as well as the Palestinian one, chanting celebratory slogans and playing revolutionary music from their cars.
An estimated 1.5 million Syrians currently reside in Lebanon, who fled their country following the outbreak of the Syrian Civil War.
Sunday's events come as both Lebanese caretaker MP Najib Mikati and his Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib said in a joint statement expressing Beirut's desire to "establish good relations with the Syrian state and its incoming representatives in order to preserve the common interests of the two countries."
"Lebanon also respects the will of the Syrian people, as it is up to them to choose their representatives, their political system and the future of their country, for the good of Syria, all while affirming the importance of good neighbourly relations between Lebanon and Syria,” the statement added. ," the statement added, as reported by L'Orient Le Jour.