Syrian forces capture Tabqa, nation’s largest dam amid swift push on Raqqa

Al JazeeraCenterEN 4 min read 100% complete by Al Jazeera StaffJanuary 18, 2026 at 08:54 AM

Syrian forces capture Tabqa, nation’s largest dam amid swift push on Raqqa

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AI Summary

long article 4 min

In January 2026, the Syrian army seized full control of Tabqa, a strategic city in Raqqa province, along with its military airport and the Euphrates Dam, Syria's largest. Information Minister Hamza al-Mustafa reported that government forces expelled fighters linked to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). The Syrian government condemned the alleged execution of prisoners by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and PKK-affiliated groups in Tabqa, calling it a violation of international law. The Syrian army's rapid advance into Raqqa follows recent operations in Aleppo, signaling a shift in military focus towards SDF-held territory. Syrian forces are now positioned to conduct clearing operations in Tabqa.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Turkiye 40% Zein Basravi ×340% United States ×240% Aleppo ×450% Hamza al-Mustafa ×250% Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) ×360% Euphrates River 60% Euphrates Dam 60% Raqqa ×570% Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) ×670% Tabqa ×580% Syrian Arab Republic ×1090%

Keywords

syrian army 100% raqqa 90% tabqa 90% sdf 80% euphrates dam 70% kurdish fighters 60% military offensive 60% syria 50% pkk 50% geneva conventions 40%

Sentiment Analysis

Neutral

Score: -0.10

Source Transparency

Source

Al Jazeera

Political Lean

Center (0.00)

Far LeftCenterFar Right

Classification Confidence

90%

Geographic Perspective

Syrian Arab Republic

This article was automatically classified using rule-based analysis. The political bias score ranges from -1 (far left) to +1 (far right).

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syrian army raqqa tabqa sdf euphrates dam kurdish fighters military offensive syria pkk geneva conventions

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