LONDON

Austria's chancellor announced on Friday a €1,000 ($1,048) incentive for Syrian refugees who wish to return to their home country in the wake of the fall of Bashar al-Assad regime.

"Austria will support Syrians, who wish to return to their home country, with a return bonus of 1,000 Euro," Karl Nehammer wrote on X.

The chancellor said that Syria now needs its citizens in order to be rebuilt.

Ongoing asylum procedures for Syrian citizens in Austria will remain suspended, he added.

Bashar al-Assad, Syria’s leader for nearly 25 years, fled to Russia after anti-regime groups took control of Damascus on Dec. 8, ending the Baath Party regime, which had been in power in Syria since 1963.​​​​​​​