German Chancellor Friedrich Merz raised the prospect of many of the Syrians who came to his country returning to their homeland over the next few years as he met Syria’s leader on Monday, arguing that they are needed to help rebuild the country. Syria is trying to rebuild and improve its economy after a long civil war that killed nearly half a million people and caused widespread destruction ended with the ouster of former President Bashar Assad in December 2024. The war also prompted huge numbers of Syrians to flee the country. Germany was a favored destination, and still hosted more than 900,000 Syrian citizens last year. Many people who arrived from Syria have gained German citizenship in recent years. Reducing migration in general, and stepping up returns of migrants who aren’t entitled to stay, has been one priority of Merz’s government, which took office nearly 11 months ago. Merz emphasized as interim President President Ahmad al-Sharaa made his first visit that Germany’s priority is to send back to Syria migrants who have committed crimes. “We have a small group here, but a group that causes us problems, of Syrians who have offended whom we now urgently want to repatriate,” he said at a news conference.