Syrian Army Tightens Grip on Northern Syria
- Syria's army has regained control of critically important areas in the country's north, displacing Kurdish forces who had maintained effective autonomy for over a decade.
- The Syrian government's move to reassert control follows a stalled implementation of a March agreement intended to integrate Kurdish forces into the state army.This action occurred shortly after...
- Government troops initially drove Kurdish forces from two neighborhoods in Aleppo last week and secured an area east of the city.
Syria’s army Reasserts Control Over Kurdish-held Territories
Table of Contents
Syria’s army has regained control of critically important areas in the country’s north, displacing Kurdish forces who had maintained effective autonomy for over a decade.
Background on Syrian-Kurdish Relations
The Syrian government’s move to reassert control follows a stalled implementation of a March agreement intended to integrate Kurdish forces into the state army.This action occurred shortly after President Ahmed al-Sharaa issued a decree on January 17, 2026, recognizing Kurdish as a “national language” and granting official recognition to the minority group, a move Kurdish leaders deemed insufficient.
Recent Military Actions and Territorial Gains
Government troops initially drove Kurdish forces from two neighborhoods in Aleppo last week and secured an area east of the city. On January 18, 2026, the Syrian army entered Tabqa in Raqa province, seizing the city’s military airport from Kurdish fighters, as reported by the official SANA news agency. Authorities also announced the capture of two oil fields in the same area. Moreover, Syrian Democratic forces (SDF) fighters were observed leaving Deir Hafer, 50km east of Aleppo, with residents returning under increased army presence.
casualties and Accusations
Both sides have reported casualties. The Syrian army stated four soldiers were killed, while Kurdish forces reported several fighters dead. Both sides accused each othre of violating the withdrawal agreement. Kurdish authorities imposed a curfew in the Raqa region following the army’s advances.
Context of the march Agreement
The March agreement aimed to resolve tensions by integrating the kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) into the Syrian army. However, the agreement’s implementation stalled, leading to the recent escalation of conflict and the Syrian army’s reassertion of control.