Die Syrian military continues to advance into areas beforehand managed by Kurds and can be counting on Arab militias. Interim President al-Sharaa apparently desires fast land positive factors.
After mediation talks involving the USA, the Kurds and the Syrian interim authorities initially agreed on a partial Kurdish withdrawal from some cities east of Aleppo. However, new violence broke out when the Syrian military took over these locations. Government troops and Kurdish forces are reportedly combating. The Syrian military is outwardly gaining floor.
“The situation is very dangerous”
“The armed forces have advanced and were able to ‘liberate’ dozens of kilometers east of the Euphrates River,” mentioned Syrian army observer Hisham al-Mostafa. “This underlines the Syrian state’s will to extend its rule over all Syrian areas.”
The Syrian military is now advancing on the town of Deir al-Sur in japanese Syria. She has now additionally activated the Arab tribes dwelling there. The Kurds partly govern the area as a minority. According to media studies, the Kurdish forces in flip known as on the inhabitants for common mobilization.
It remains to be unclear to what extent that is the scary escalation in direction of conflict or whether or not it’s just some skirmishes earlier than the following spherical of negotiations. The Sharaa troops look like thinking about rapidly gaining land.
“There is an attack by the Syrian army, supported by the troops of the so-called Arab tribes,” Kurdish journalist Akteem Assaad informed Al-Jazeera. “Fears are high, the situation is very dangerous. It seems that Damascus wants to use this day to achieve quick victories before any agreement is signed.”
Map: Syria with the Euphrates River. Hatching: areas managed by Kurds based on ISW, as of January 17, 2026
Fight for land and oil
Interim President al-Sharaa desires to carry greater than the present two-thirds of the nation’s territory beneath his management. There are necessary oil fields within the northeast. The Kurds have managed this space for years and are demanding autonomy or a federal system within the new Syria that takes under consideration the rights of minorities.
An settlement between the Kurds and the al-Sharaa authorities concluded in March final yr has not but been applied.
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