Monday, January 19, 2026- Syrian government forces have pushed deep into northern and northeastern towns long held by the Kurdish‑led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a rapid advance that Kurdish officials and fighters are calling a “betrayal” that undermines a fragile peace process.
The offensive saw the Syrian army enter key settlements such as Tabqa and surrounding villages along the Euphrates River, stretching control into areas beyond what was agreed in previous withdrawal arrangements. The SDF says Damascus violated the terms of earlier deals by moving into towns that were not part of negotiated handovers, triggering fierce accusations and clashes.
The operation followed a period of stalled talks aimed at integrating Kurdish forces into Syria’s national military and political structures, part of a broader effort to unify authority after years of civil war and Kurdish autonomy in the northeast.
Kurdish commanders had begun pulling back fighters as a goodwill gesture, but Syrian troops continued their advance into territory the Kurds expected to retain or withdraw from on agreed terms. This expansion has included strategic locations and oilfields, heightening tensions over both the implementation of past accords and the ambitions of Damascus to reassert control nationwide.
The sudden shift has complicated a major diplomatic moment: while Syrian state media now touts progress toward a ceasefire and integration deal with the SDF, Kurdish leaders and their supporters say the army’s unilateral moves have shattered trust and undercut prospects for a stable, negotiated settlement.
The developments mark a critical inflection point in Syria’s conflict, with the Kurdish population and allied forces facing the loss of semi‑autonomous governance they had maintained for over a decade and broader regional players watching closely.
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