The Syrian army continued its offensive in northern Kurdish-held towns, capturing Tabqa city and its adjacent dam, along with the major Freedom dam west of Raqaa, despite US calls to halt operations. State media reported that troops are moving strategically along the Euphrates River, targeting towns and nearby oilfields, escalating tensions in a region already fragile after years of conflict and unrest.
For days, Syrian forces amassed near villages west of the Euphrates, demanding that Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) redeploy to the opposite riverbank. While SDF fighters initially withdrew from some areas as a goodwill gesture, they later accused government troops of exceeding the agreed zones, claiming further advances violated the original understanding. This has renewed clashes in key towns and resource-rich regions.
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Arab-majority towns such as Deir Hafer welcomed Syrian troops, with residents expressing relief at the reduced bloodshed and claiming that government control could bring stability. Meanwhile, Syrian forces captured the Rasafa and Sufyan oilfields, planning to bring production back online. The SDF remains in control of other major oilfields, increasing tensions over resources and territorial authority in eastern Syria.
US Central Command head Brad Cooper urged Syrian troops to cease offensive actions in areas stretching from Aleppo to Tabqa, roughly 160 kilometers east, warning that continued attacks could escalate conflict. US-led coalition aircraft reportedly flew over flashpoint towns, releasing warning flares to deter further advances and signaling Washington’s concern over potential civilian casualties and regional instability.
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Diplomatic efforts continue, with US envoy Tom Barrack traveling to Erbil in northern Iraq to meet Kurdish leaders, seeking a peaceful resolution. The ongoing conflict underscores the fragility of agreements made last year to integrate Kurdish-led military and civilian bodies into Syrian state institutions, which remain stalled despite repeated negotiations between Damascus and Kurdish authorities.
Analysts say the clashes reveal deep fault lines between Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s government and Kurdish authorities, who fear losing autonomy in Arab-majority regions. Historical sectarian violence in Syria, including attacks on Alawite and Druze communities, has heightened Kurdish concerns, making reconciliation difficult while Syrian troops push to consolidate control over northern and eastern territories.