RismadarVoice Reporters
January 18, 2026
Syrian government forces have taken full control of the strategic city of Tabqa, its military airport, and the nearby Euphrates Dam, the country’s largest, state media reported on Sunday.
Information Minister, Hamza al-Mustafa said the army secured the city after expelling fighters linked to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and condemned alleged executions of prisoners by Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and PKK-affiliated groups, describing the acts as violations of international humanitarian law.
The offensive follows rapid Syrian army advances from Aleppo province towards Raqqa, forcing SDF units to retreat. Videos circulated online showed SDF fighters evacuating a military hospital as clashes intensified near Tabqa’s southern entrance. Local authorities reported damage to Raqqa’s water supply after an explosion near the old bridge, allegedly carried out by the SDF.
The army reported capturing multiple villages around al-Rasafa, securing Mansoura Dam, and encircling 64 SDF fighters who subsequently surrendered. Operations have also expanded to eastern Deir Az Zor, with tribal forces coordinating with government troops to push SDF units from several towns.
Observers note that the Syrian army’s rapid advance deviates from the March 2025 agreement, which envisioned a phased withdrawal of SDF forces. The swift operation has created a “chaotic change of guard,” according to William Lawrence, former US diplomat and current Professor at the American University.
