Syrian government forces seize strategic town in Raqqa as SDF retreats

Al JazeeraCenterEN 2 min read 100% complete by By News AgenciesJanuary 18, 2026 at 12:12 PM

AI Summary

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In January 2026, Syrian government forces seized the strategic town of Tabqa in Raqqa province from the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). This advance is part of an ongoing offensive against the SDF east of the Euphrates River, following deadly clashes earlier in the month in Aleppo. Tabqa's capture is significant due to its proximity to a dam regulating water flow into SDF-held areas. The Syrian government and the SDF have accused each other of violating a previous agreement intended to reintegrate northeastern Syria. The SDF withdrew from the area after an announcement by a Syrian official regarding measures to strengthen Kurdish rights. The Syrian government has accused the SDF of executing prisoners in Tabqa before withdrawing, an allegation the SDF denies.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Syrian Observatory for Human Rights 30% Deir Az Zor 30% al-Sharaa 40% ISIL (ISIS) 40% Aleppo ×250% Mazloum Abdi (Mazloum Kobani) 50% United States ×260% Euphrates River ×270% Raqqa Province ×270% Tabqa ×580% Syrian Arab Republic ×890% Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) ×1190%

Keywords

syrian democratic forces (sdf) 90% syrian government forces 90% tabqa 80% raqqa province 70% euphrates river 60% us-backed 50% offensive 50% kurdish rights 40% prisoner execution 40%

Sentiment Analysis

Negative

Score: -0.20

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 democratic forces (sdf)syrian government forces tabqa raqqa province euphrates river us-backed offensive kurdish rights prisoner execution

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