Printed On 18 Jan 2026
Authorities forces have seized a strategic city in jap Syria, a part of an ongoing offensive towards Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) east of the Euphrates River.
The speedy military operation on Sunday follows battles earlier this month between Damascus and the United States-backed SDF, which led to lethal clashes and the federal government taking management of three neighbourhoods in Aleppo metropolis from the group.
Sunday’s advance into Tabqa, in Raqqa province, is seen as important due to a close-by dam that regulates the southward circulate of water into areas held by the SDF.
The federal government and the SDF have exchanged accusations of violating a March settlement meant to reintegrate northeastern Syria and Kurdish-led forces into the buildings of the Syrian state.
The SDF controls giant swathes of northeastern Syria and has for years been Washington’s key ally in combating the ISIL (ISIS) group. Over that interval, the US has developed sturdy ties with the SDF and has tried to ease tensions between the 2 sides.
The US had urged calm after this month’s clashes in Aleppo killed 23 individuals and displaced tens of 1000’s. After the combating subsided, SDF chief Mazloum Abdi (also referred to as Mazloum Kobani) stated on Friday that the group would withdraw its forces from areas east of the Euphrates following an announcement by Syrian official al-Sharaa on measures to strengthen Kurdish rights in Syria.
Tabqa is the newest in a sequence of largely Arab-majority areas captured by authorities forces in Raqqa province. It stays unclear how far into the Kurdish heartland the Syrian army intends to advance.
In the meantime, the Syrian authorities has accused the SDF of executing prisoners in Tabqa earlier than withdrawing.
The SDF has denied the allegation, saying it transferred detainees out of the jail and accusing authorities forces of firing on the ability.
The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights struggle monitor reported that authorities forces have taken management of greater than a dozen villages and cities within the jap Deir Az Zor countryside following the SDF withdrawal.
