The Operations Authority in the Syrian Arab Army announced this morning the complete control of the strategic city of Al-Tabqa, its military airport, and the Euphrates Dam in the countryside of Raqqa Governorate, northeastern Syria, confirming the expulsion of fighters from the “Syrian Democratic Forces” and groups affiliated with the “Kurdistan Workers’ Party” from the region.
Syrian Minister of Information Hamza Al-Mustafa confirmed, via his account on the “X” platform, that the army has imposed its control over the city of Al-Tabqa, including the “Euphrates Dam,” the largest in Syria, explaining that this operation comes within the efforts to expand control and secure vital areas.
In an official statement, the Syrian government condemned what it described as a “full-fledged crime” after the “Qasd organization” executed prisoners and captives, including civilians, in the city of Al-Tabqa, considering that this act constitutes a flagrant violation of the “Geneva Conventions and international humanitarian law.”
On the field level, correspondents mentioned that violent clashes broke out inside the neighborhoods of Raqqa city and at its southern entrance, coinciding with the arrival of units of the Syrian army to the outskirts of the city, while circulating video clips showed the “Qasd forces” evacuating the military hospital in Raqqa.
The Raqqa Media Directorate also announced the interruption of water to the city as a result of the explosion of the main pipes extending along the old bridge, while the Syrian News Agency (SANA) confirmed that “Qasd” blew up the old bridge on the Euphrates River before its withdrawal.
In a remarkable development, SANA reported the surrender of 64 fighters from “Qasd” after they were besieged by army forces in a neighborhood of Al-Mansoura city in the Raqqa countryside.
In return, the Syrian army announced the start of a military operation against “Qasd” positions east of the Euphrates River in the Deir Ezzor countryside, in coordination with groups from the tribes, and news circulated that the army and its allies had taken control of a number of villages and towns, with additional military reinforcements being sent to the region.
The commander of the “Qasd forces,” Mazloum Abdi, announced on Friday evening the withdrawal of his forces from the contact areas west of the Euphrates, describing this step as compliance with the “March 10, 2025 agreement,” which stipulates the integration of military and civil institutions in northeastern Syria within the state administration.
In a related context, SANA reported on Sunday that Kurdish fighters in “Qasd” blew up two main bridges on the Euphrates River in Raqqa Governorate, after the Syrian army announced its control of the city of Al-Tabqa and the neighboring Euphrates Dam, according to what was reported by Agence France-Presse.
The official agency quoted the Raqqa Governorate Media Directorate as saying that “the Qasd organization blew up the new (Al-Rashid) bridge in Raqqa city,” and had previously reported that Kurdish fighters blew up “the old bridge extending over the Euphrates River in Raqqa, which led to the destruction of the water lines extending over it.”
