JDEIDET YABOUS, Syria, March 3 (Xinhua) -- Suitcases scraped along the pavement as children clutched bags of hurriedly packed belongings. Mothers shielded their infants from the scorching sun, while buses idled in long lines near the Syrian border.

At the Jdeidet Yabous crossing between Syria and Lebanon, the usual trickle of travelers has transformed into a torrent of returnees.

On Monday, as Israeli airstrikes hammered Lebanon, thousands of Syrians began their journey home, turning the border into a tense and crowded corridor of hurried goodbyes and uncertain reunions.

Syrian authorities say around 11,000 people crossed from Lebanon into Syria on Monday alone, far exceeding the usual daily average. Most were Syrian families, though more than 700 Lebanese nationals who met entry requirements also crossed into Syria.

Long queues of buses, private vehicles and pedestrians stretched along the road leading to the crossing. Many arrived on foot after fleeing southern Lebanon, where security has rapidly worsened amid escalating hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel.

Mohammed al-Qassem, head of the Public Relations Department at the Jdeidet Yabous border crossing, told Xinhua that the authorities had mobilized all available personnel to manage the influx.

"Since yesterday until this morning, more than 10,000 Syrian citizens have entered, along with more than 700 Lebanese citizens who meet the conditions for entry," he said.

He added that reserve halls had been opened and 24-hour operations activated to prevent overcrowding and delays.

Medical teams were stationed at the entry gates, offering first aid and vital medications, while volunteers handed out water to weary travelers. Officials reported that Lebanese authorities had temporarily relaxed procedures at the Masnaa crossing to alleviate the overwhelming congestion, enabling Syrians to move more swiftly toward home.

For many, the return was not voluntary but driven by fear.

"I fled from the south (in Lebanon) ... there is heavy bombardment," Mustafa Issa, a Syrian in his 30s from Quneitra, told Xinhua. "I spent 25 hours on the road. It's frightening and humiliating. We had no choice but to escape. The situation is heartbreaking."

Now back in Syria, he said he is heading to reunite with his family in the southern province of Quneitra.

Others had been living in Lebanon for years before the latest escalation forced them to reconsider their future.

"We came back to Syria because of the pressure and the war," Fayez Shabat, a Syrian originally from Daraa who had been residing in Lebanon, told Xinhua. "We have no place to turn to except our homeland."

The United Nations refugee agency said its teams are present at both Jdeidet Yabous and Jousieh border crossings, with contingency plans in place should arrivals increase further. Humanitarian supplies have been pre-positioned inside Syria, and assistance programs are being activated to support families in need.

Syrian emergency and disaster management chief Raed al-Saleh said authorities are coordinating across multiple government agencies to manage the increased arrivals and provide support to returnees.

While traffic at the crossing remains orderly, officials say they are prepared for further surges if hostilities in Lebanon continue.

For the families passing through Jdeidet Yabous, the journey back to Syria marks both an escape from immediate danger and the beginning of yet another uncertain chapter in a region shaped by shifting front lines.