Syrian forces seize Euphrates dams and push into Kurdish-held towns

Syrian government forces pushed into Kurdish-held towns and critical infrastructure along the Euphrates on Jan. 17–18, seizing Tabqa city, the adjacent Tabqa dam and the Freedom Dam west of Raqqa, state media and government sources said. The movements followed days of troop concentrations west of the river and came amid competing accounts on the ground, with Kurdish authorities and U.S.-aligned sources saying fighting continued and accusing Damascus of breaching withdrawal agreements.

The operation extended earlier government gains that reportedly included the seizure of Deir al-Zor’s main oil and gas fields east of the Euphrates, a development described by government sources as returning much of Syria’s oil wealth to state control for the first time in more than a decade. Control of those hydrocarbon assets could materially alter the regime’s fiscal outlook, though analysts warn that sanctions, damaged export infrastructure and ongoing insecurity will limit near-term revenue flows.

Local dynamics were fluid and fragmented. Government troops massed around a cluster of villages west of the river and publicly demanded SDF redeployment to the east bank after negotiations on integration and territorial arrangements stalled. Kurdish commanders are reported to have pulled back from some forward positions as a gesture aimed at de‑escalation, only to accuse pro-government forces and allied tribal militias of pressing further into towns and oilfields not covered by any withdrawal deal. Clashes were reported in Gharanij and Abu Hammam, and social-media footage circulating on multiple platforms showed Arab residents celebrating the arrival of government-aligned forces in some localities.

State-run SANA published images it said showed Kurdish fighters destroying two bridges over the Euphrates on approaches to Raqqa, and Syrian state outlets circulated additional footage of collapsed bridges amid the fighting. Geolocated video has emerged purporting to show tribal militia elements in parts of Raqqa, though control of the provincial capital and surrounding areas remained contested and independently verifiable confirmation was limited.

The military advances have immediate policy and security implications. The United States publicly urged Syrian troops to halt their advance and pressed for de‑escalation, while a U.S. envoy held talks with Kurdish leaders in Erbil. France also conveyed concern to Syrian interlocutors, warning that the offensive had to stop. Diplomats and Kurdish figures warned that renewed fighting in the northeast could unravel fragile local arrangements, undermine the SDF’s ability to counter remaining extremist cells and complicate broader regional negotiations over autonomy and reconstruction.

Economically, the seizure of dams and energy infrastructure raises short- and long-term risks. The Tabqa and Freedom dams are vital for electricity generation, irrigation and water management in Raqqa province, and disruptions threaten civilian services and agricultural seasons. Regaining oil and gas fields could provide Damascus with a larger resource base to fund security operations and reconstruction, but long-term benefits depend on rehabilitating pipelines, export routes and governance arrangements for resource management.

The overall picture is a patchwork of competing claims and on-the-ground uncertainty. Syrian state media and government statements framed events as rapid, negotiated gains and a ceasefire, while Kurdish authorities denied or did not acknowledge some territorial losses and accused government forces of violating withdrawal terms. Independent verification of the extent and permanence of government control across the reported sites remained incomplete as diplomats raced to cool tensions and stave off a broader confrontation in the northeast.