Syrian Army seizes northeast as US abandons Kurdish-led forces

Syrian government troops stand guard beside a burning tyre on a street in Tabqa, in Syria’s Raqqa province, on the southwestern bank of the Euphrates, on 18 January 2026. AFP - OMAR HAJ KADOUR

The Syrian Army has made sweeping gains against Kurdish-led forces in northeast Syria, dealing a major blow to Syrian Kurdish autonomy and handing victories to both Damascus and neighbouring Turkey. With Washington abandoning its backing of the militia alliance, the Syrian Democratic Forces now face disbandment or renewed fighting.

Within days, Syrian government troops swept aside the SDF and took control of vast areas of territory. The offensive followed the collapse of talks on integrating the SDF into the Syrian Army.