Eastern Aleppo offensive
On 13 January, the Syrian army declared Maskanah and Deir Hafer as "closed military zones", accusing the SDF of regrouping in the area and using Iranian-made drones to launch attacks against civilians in Aleppo. [7] The SDF reportedly destroyed three bridges linking SDF-controlled areas with government-held territory east of Aleppo. [8] The Syrian army claimed that it had thwarted an attempt by the SDF to mine and blow up a bridge linking the villages of Rasm al-Imam and Rasm al-Krum, near Deir Hafer. [9] On 14 January, the Syrian Army's Operations Authority announced the opening of a humanitarian corridor, that crosses Deir Hafer toward Hamima, controlled by the Syrian government forces and added that clashes occurred near the Tishrin Dam, [10] [11] On 15 January, the SDF closed the Tabqa, Raqqa and Deir ez-Zor border crossings with the Syrian government, "until further notice". [12]
On 16 January, SDF commander-in-chief, Mazloum Abdi said on Twitter that the SDF would withdraw from Deir Hafer on 17 January, that this step came "based on calls from friendly countries and mediators, and our demonstration of good faith in completing the merger process and commitment to implementing the terms of the March 10 agreement." [13] Reportedly on the same day, six members of the SDF deserted to the Syrian government forces. [14]
The SDF repelled an attack on Tashir Dam, claiming 10 tanks destroyed, the SOHR later confirmed two. [15] [16]
Raqqa and Deir ez-Zor offensives
On 17 January, following mediation from the US, the SDF withdrew from Deir Hafer and Maskanah, with the Syrian army entering them a few hours later [17] [18] , with the local people greeting the Syrian army. [19] Arab tribal leaders in SDF-held territory in Deir ez-Zor governorate told Reuters they were ready to take up arms against the Kurdish force if Syria's army issues ordered them to do so. [20]
The SDF accused the Syrian army of violating the withdrawal agreement by attacking its forces during its withdrawal. [21] Two Syrian army soldiers were killed by the SDF in the ensuing clashes. [22] In response, the Syrian government declared the territory west of the Euphrates, which was under SDF control, as a 'closed military zone', including the areas of southern Raqqa governorate with the city of Tabqa. [18] [23] After the exacerbated tensions, the Syrian army began attacking areas of Tabqa Canton.
On 18 January, Syrian government forces captured Al-Tabqah, Tabqa Dam and the Tabqa Airbase. Additionally, Syrian army captured the entire eastern Deir ez-Zor countryside, along with all its town and villages, as well as the oil and gas fields located in the region including the Al-Omar field, the country’s largest, and the Conoco gas field. [2] [24] State-run Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) has reported that SDF has blown up a bridge connecting Raqqa and positions south of it, [25] also cutting the watter supply. [26] At around noon, tribal forces took control of Raqqa after major clashes, with the Syrian army entering the city after a few hours. [27]
An Associated Press journalist in the area said that local residents greeted the large military convoys of the Syrian transitional government that entered Raqqa, after the withdrawal of SDF forces from the city. Syrian military forces also took control of the oil fields in Raqqa. [28] [29] On 18th January, Syrian military forces seized control of the Conoco gas field and Omar oil field in eastern Deir ez-Zor, after Arab tribal forces allied to the Syrian government advanced through the regions along the Syria-Iraq border. [30] [31] [32] This was after Arab tribal fighters launched an offensive into the eastern bank of Euphrates and captured the al-Shuhayl and al-Busayrah towns. [33]
The SDF repelled an attack by Syrian government forces in the village of Saida, in the rural area of Ayn Issa. [34]
Local rebels have reportedly also captured Shaddadi and Markada in Hasakah governorate. [35] [36] Additionally, tribal forces captured 13 villages to the south of Hasakah. [37]
Syrian transitional government 
Arab Tribal and Clan Forces 
Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria 
Murhaf Abu Qasra 
Mazloum Abdi 
