By Micah Jonah
January 18, 2026
The Syrian military has seized the northern town of Tabqa and its adjacent Euphrates Dam, the largest in the country, from Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), advancing towards Raqqa in the north.
Government forces also took control of Deir Hafer and the Jarrah airbase, clearing mines and explosives as they pushed forward. Heavy clashes continue east of Deir Az Zor, where Syrian troops captured key oilfields, including al-Omar and al-Tanak.
The Syrian government accused the SDF of killing captured troops in Tabqa, calling for international condemnation and promising legal accountability. There was no immediate response from the SDF.
Tens of thousands of people remain displaced from Aleppo governorate, though many have begun returning home. The United States had urged Syrian forces to halt the offensive through Kurdish-held territory, however, the army continued its advance.
