Jan 18, 2026, 10:46Jan 18, 2026, 10:46
Syrian government troops have taken control of areas in the north and east of the country in a rapid advance. The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) had previously withdrawn its troops from areas they had previously held. There were also skirmishes. The SDF is considered an important ally of the USA in the fight against the terrorist militia Islamic State (IS).
Syrian government troops.Image: keystone
Capture of large oil fields
The Syrian state news agency Sana reported that government troops had taken the northern town of Tabka and the Euphrates dam. This is the largest dam in the country.
In addition, government forces captured several villages in the eastern Syrian province of Deir al-Sur after SDF fighters withdrew from the area, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported. The SDF also withdrew from the large oil fields of al-Omar and al-Tanak, which were then taken over by government troops. The Observatory, based in Great Britain, obtains its information from a network of local informants.
Internationally brokered withdrawal agreement
The advance by government troops into Kurdish-controlled areas followed an internationally brokered withdrawal agreement announced on Friday by SDF chief Maslum Abdi to defuse tensions between the two sides.
The decision to withdraw was made as a gesture of goodwill, explained Abdi. It is part of the commitment to implement an agreement concluded last year that provides for the integration of the SDF into government troops after the overthrow of long-time Syrian ruler Bashar al-Assad.
However, the SDF accused the Damascus-based government of violating the agreement and advancing into areas not covered by the agreement.
The US Middle East Regional Command (Centcom) headquarters had previously called on Syrian government forces to stop any offensive operations in the areas between Aleppo and Tabka. In order to fight against the terrorist militia IS, coordinated cooperation with Syrian partners is necessary, according to a statement from Centcom commander Brad Cooper.
Mutual blame after battles
There had previously been fighting between Kurdish militias and government troops southeast of Aleppo. The SDF accused the interim government of a “sneaky attack”. The Syrian army, for its part, said its troops had been attacked. The interim government accuses the SDF of tolerating supporters of the ousted Assad government and PKK members.
Observers fear that ongoing tensions between Kurdish forces and the government could lead to a wider conflict. (hkl/sda/dpa)