/Syrian Army Advances on Kurdish Towns, Threatening Peace Deal
- Negotiations between the Syrian government and Kurdish authorities regarding the status of Kurdish-held territories have stalled, leading to increased tensions and localized clashes.
- The Syrian government, under President Bashar al-Assad, had set a deadline of the end of 2025 for resolving disputes with Kurdish groups, primarily the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF),...
- Kurdish authorities currently administer areas in eastern Syria with substantial oil and gas reserves, representing a key point of contention in negotiations.
Syria’s army has taken control of swathes of the country’s north, dislodging Kurdish forces from territory over which they held effective autonomy for more than a decade.
State media said on Saturday that the army took over the northern city of Tabqa and its adjacent dam, and also the major Freedom dam, formerly known as the Baath, west of the Syrian city of Raqaa. It came despite US calls to halt the advance.The government appeared to be extending its grip on Kurdish-run areas after the Syrian president,Ahmed al-Sharaa,issued a decree declaring Kurdish a national language and granting the minority group official recognition.
The army advanced after implementation of a March 2025 deal – intended to integrate Kurdish forces into the state – stalled.
Related: Syrian forces expel Kurdish fighters as US strikes Islamic State targets
Government troops drove Kurdish forces from two Aleppo neighbourhoods last week and on Saturday took control of an area east of the city.
For days, Syrian troops had amassed around a cluster of villages that lie just west of the winding Euphrates and had called on the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) stationed ther to redeploy their forces on the opposite bank of the river. They have been clashing over strategic posts and oilfields along the Euphrates River.SDF fighters withdrew from the area early on Saturday as a gesture of goodwill – but then accused Syrian troops of violating the agreement by continuing to push further east into towns and oilfields not included in the deal.The SDF said on Saturday that damascus had “violated the recent agreements and betrayed our forces”, with clashes erupting with troops south of Tabqa. The army meanwhile urged the SDF to “instantly
Syria-Kurdish Conflict & Negotiations (as of January 18, 2026)
Table of Contents
Negotiations between the Syrian government and Kurdish authorities regarding the status of Kurdish-held territories have stalled, leading to increased tensions and localized clashes. As of January 18, 2026, a thorough resolution remains elusive, and the situation is volatile.
Negotiation Deadlock & Aleppo Clashes
The Syrian government, under President Bashar al-Assad, had set a deadline of the end of 2025 for resolving disputes with Kurdish groups, primarily the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), through diplomatic means. Reuters reported on January 11, 2024, that after the deadline passed without significant progress, clashes erupted in Aleppo, resulting in a withdrawal of Kurdish fighters. Following this, Syrian troops positioned themselves around towns in northern and eastern Syria to exert pressure on Kurdish authorities to concede in ongoing negotiations.
Control of oil & Gas Resources
Kurdish authorities currently administer areas in eastern Syria with substantial oil and gas reserves, representing a key point of contention in negotiations. Reuters notes that Arab tribal leaders within SDF-controlled territory have expressed willingness to oppose the Kurdish forces should the Syrian army issue orders to that effect. This highlights the potential for broader conflict involving Arab militias.
Sectarian Violence & Kurdish Concerns
Kurdish anxieties have been heightened by instances of sectarian violence in 2025.Reuters reported that approximately 1,500 Alawites were killed by pro-government forces in western syria, and hundreds of Druze were killed in southern Syria, including instances of execution-style killings. These events raise concerns about the potential for similar violence targeting Kurdish communities if a political agreement is not reached.
- Bashar al-Assad: President of Syria.
- Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF): A kurdish-led militia group that controls significant territory in northern and eastern Syria.
- Syrian Arab Army: The official military force of the Syrian government.
- Alawites: A religious minority in Syria, largely supportive of the Assad regime.
- Druze: Another religious minority in Syria, concentrated in the south.
status as of January 18,2026: As of this date,there have been no major reported escalations beyond the troop deployments and localized clashes reported in January 2024. Negotiations remain stalled, and the threat of further conflict persists. Further updates are needed to assess the current situation.