The Syrian army continued its push into Kurdish-held areas in northern Syria on Saturday, despite calls from the United States to halt its advance. State media reported that troops captured the city of Tabqa, nearby dams, and the Freedom Dam, previously known as the Baath Dam, west of Raqaa.
Kurdish authorities have not confirmed losing control of these strategic locations, and it remains unclear if fighting continues in some areas.
For days, Syrian forces gathered near villages west of the Euphrates River and demanded that the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) redeploy across the river. Skirmishes have occurred over control of towns and oilfields along the river.
The SDF withdrew from parts of the area early Saturday as a goodwill gesture, but later accused Syrian troops of violating the withdrawal agreement by moving further east into towns and oilfields not included in the deal.
Brad Cooper, head of U.S. Central Command, posted a statement on X urging Syrian forces to “cease any offensive actions in areas” between Aleppo and Tabqa, approximately 160 kilometers east.
The initial withdrawal included the town of Deir Hafer and nearby villages with predominantly Arab populations. SDF fighters left the area Saturday, and Syrian troops entered without significant resistance. Residents celebrated the arrival of government forces.
“It happened with the least amount of losses. There’s been enough blood in this country. People are tired of it,” said Hussein al-Khalaf, a resident of Deir Hafer.
The Syrian Petroleum Company reported that nearby oilfields, including Rasafa and Sufyan, had been captured and could be restored to production. Meanwhile, some SDF forces moved east toward Tabqa, remaining on the western side of the river near a hydroelectric dam crucial for power generation.
When Syria announced plans to capture Tabqa next, the SDF stated that the town was not part of the original deal and vowed to defend it and surrounding oilfields. Syrian authorities reported four of their soldiers were killed in attacks by Kurdish fighters, while the SDF confirmed some casualties but did not provide numbers. U.S.-led coalition aircraft flew over the towns, deploying warning flares.
The U.S. is navigating a complex situation in Syria, balancing past support for the SDF, which fought against the Islamic State, with new backing for President Ahmed al-Sharaa, whose forces ousted Bashar al-Assad in late 2024.
Main oilfields in Kurdish-controlled areas remain under SDF authority. To reduce tensions, U.S. envoy Tom Barrack traveled to Erbil, Iraq, to meet Kurdish leaders, including Abdi and Masoud Barzani. No official statement was released following the meetings.
The clashes have heightened divisions between Sharaa’s government, which seeks to reunify Syria after 14 years of war, and Kurdish authorities concerned about integrating into his Islamist-led administration. Last year, talks to incorporate Kurdish military and civilian bodies into Syrian institutions were set to conclude by the end of 2025, but limited progress led to renewed fighting.
Kurdish authorities still control Arab-majority areas in the east, home to Syria’s largest oil and gas fields. Arab tribal leaders in these regions have said they may take up arms against the SDF if ordered by the Syrian government.
Sectarian violence last year has deepened Kurdish concerns, with reports of nearly 1,500 Alawites killed in western Syria and hundreds of Druze executed in southern areas.
The ongoing conflict highlights the fragile security situation in northern Syria, where strategic towns, energy resources, and ethnic tensions continue to fuel clashes despite international calls for restraint.
