BERLIN (AP) — 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