Syrian army surges into Kurdish-held towns in ‘betrayal’ shattering prospects of accord

The Guardian - World NewsCenter-LeftEN 4 min read 100% complete by Guardian staff with Reuters and Agence France-Presse in Deir HafarJanuary 18, 2026 at 06:44 AM

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long article 4 min

Syrian army forces have moved into Kurdish-held areas in northern Syria, taking control of Tabqa, its dam, and the Freedom dam near Raqqa. The advance follows a stalled March 2025 deal intended to integrate Kurdish forces into the state. The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), formerly in control of the region, accuse Damascus of violating agreements and betraying their forces after withdrawing from certain areas as a gesture of goodwill. Clashes have erupted between the Syrian army and the SDF, particularly south of Tabqa, with the SDF reportedly destroying bridges over the Euphrates River in the Raqqa region. The US military has called on Syrian troops to halt offensive actions in the area.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Brad Cooper 30% Aleppo ×240% Ahmed al-Sharaa 40% United States 50% Raqqa ×460% Euphrates River ×365% Tabqa ×470% Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) ×575% Syria ×480% Kurdish Forces ×785% Syrian Arab Army ×790%

Keywords

syrian army 90% syria 90% kurdish forces 90% sdf 80% tabqa 70% territorial control 70% conflict 70% agreement violation 60% raqqa 60% euphrates river 60%