Politics Rapid advance of government troops in Syria
Syrian government troops have taken control of areas in the north and east of the country as part of a rapid advance. The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) had previously withdrawn their troops from areas previously held by them. There had also been fighting in the process. The SDF are considered an important ally of the USA in the fight against the terrorist militia Islamic State (IS).
18.01.2026, 10:56
SDA
Capture of large oil fields
The Syrian state news agency Sana reported that government troops had captured the northern city of Tabka and the Euphrates Dam. This is the largest dam in the country.
In addition, government troops had taken several villages in the eastern Syrian province of Deir al-Sur after SDF fighters withdrew from the area, reported the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The SDF had also withdrawn from the large oil fields of al-Omar and al-Tanak, which were subsequently taken over by government troops. The Observatory, which is based in the UK, obtains its information from a network of informants on the ground.
Internationally mediated withdrawal agreement
The advance of government troops into Kurdish-controlled areas followed an internationally mediated withdrawal agreement announced on Friday by SDF chief Maslum Abdi in order to defuse tensions between the two sides.
The decision to withdraw was made as a gesture of goodwill, explained Abdi. It was part of the commitment to implement an agreement concluded last year, which provides for the integration of the SDF into the government forces following the fall 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 headquarters of the US Regional Command (Centcom) for the Middle East had previously called on the Syrian government forces to halt any offensive operations in the areas between Aleppo and Tabka. Coordinated cooperation with the Syrian partners is necessary for the fight against the terrorist militia IS, according to a statement by Centcom commander Brad Cooper.
Mutual recriminations after battles
There had previously been fighting between Kurdish militias and government troops south-east of Aleppo. The SDF accused the transitional government of a "sneak attack". The Syrian army, for its part, declared that its troops had been attacked. The transitional government accuses the SDF of tolerating supporters of the ousted Assad government and PKK members.
Observers fear that the ongoing tensions between the Kurdish forces and the government could lead to a major conflict.
