Syrian forces enter outskirts of Raqqa, advance deeper into the US‑backed, Kurdish‑controlled northeast
Mahmud Hasano and Halil Ashawi
TABQA, Jan 18 (Reuters) – Syrian government troops have entered the outskirts of the city of Raqqa and are advancing towards the country’s northeast, the last stronghold of the U.S.-backed autonomous Kurdish-led administration, government officials and security sources said on Sunday.
Two Syrian military sources said tanks had begun entering Raqqa, which was once controlled by the Islamic State and captured by the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces in October 2017.
Two residents said thousands of residents took to the streets of Raqqa to celebrate the Syrian army’s advance as SDF forces withdrew their equipment.
The army, along with its Arab tribal allies, had previously seized control of Deir ez-Zor’s main oil and gas fields east of the Euphrates River, a major source of income for Kurdish-led forces, dealing a major blow to the group.
Syrian President Ahmed al-Shara said last week that it was unacceptable that the militias (Syrian Democratic Forces) control a quarter of the country and hold the main sources of oil and commodities.
US envoy Tom Barrack, who met with Kurdish leaders in Erbil in northern Iraq, held talks with Sharaa in Damascus about the latest developments, and Washington called on the two sides to de-escalate tensions, government officials said.
Washington is torn between preventing the collapse of the self-governing zone of its Kurdish partners, which played a central role in defeating the Islamic State in Syria, and supporting Sharaa’s goal of consolidating control over the rest of the country.
While Sharaa promises to prevent Syria from being divided on sectarian and ethnic basis, Kurdish leaders say they do not want separation, they want a decentralized state.
French President Emmanuel Macron said he met with Sharaa on Sunday and expressed concerns about the government’s Western-backed “continued offensive against Kurdish-led forces.”
Macron, whose country is part of mediation efforts between Damascus and the Kurds, said on Saturday that the attack must be stopped.
Sipan Hamo, head of the People’s Protection Corps, the main Kurdish force within the SDF, told Reuters that the United States needed to take stronger action to end the offensive.
He said that given the Kurds’ “concerns about the changes that are taking place,” the United States should give them assurances of protection.
“Our greatest hope is for a concrete result, especially from the coalition and the United States, that means they will intervene in the current problems more strongly than they are currently doing,” Hamo said. he said.
SYRIAN GOVERNMENT TROOPS CAPTURED OIL AND WHEAT PRODUCTION AREAS
The Syrian army has cracked down on predominantly Arab-populated areas in northeastern Syria controlled by the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), despite US calls to halt the advance.
A government source said Kurdish-led forces were defeated after advancing under the leadership of Arab tribal fighters, allowing the government and its tribal allies to advance into territory on the eastern bank of the Euphrates, from Baghouz near the Iraqi border towards key towns such as al-Shuhail and Busayra.
Syrian government officials said the advances put them effectively under control of most of Deir ez-Zor province, the country’s main oil and wheat producing region along the Euphrates River.
Late on Saturday, the army took control of the northern city of Tabqa and the adjacent dam, as well as the Freedom Dam, formerly known as the Baath Dam, in the west of Raqqa.
Syrian Kurdish officials, who do not accept the loss of these strategic areas, said that clashes continue near the dam area and accused Damascus of violating the agreement to withdraw forces from areas east of Aleppo to expand its offensive.
Syrian Kurdish officials said government-allied groups attacked their forces despite efforts to reach a peaceful outcome. The civilian administration that governs the region said Damascus intends to create divisions between Arabs and Kurds.
Calling on those living in Arab-majority regions to stand by the SDF, the statement said, “We are at a critical juncture. We either resist or live with dignity and face all kinds of injustice.”
The statement said, “We call on our people, especially the youth, to take up arms and prepare to resist any attack. We are facing a war of survival.”
The government had called on SDF fighters, most of whom were Arab tribes, to flee. He said hundreds of people had switched sides and joined tribal forces fighting the SDF.
The government’s rapid advance was also aided by thousands of Arab tribal warriors who took up arms against the SDF; This reflects years of resentment over forced military conscription and the marginalization of oil-rich regions.
The SDF denies supporting Kurds in its governing bodies and says its leadership ranks reflect the diversity of Syrian society.
(Reporting by the Damascus team; Writing by Suleiman al Khalidi Editing by Elaine Hardcastle and Jane Merriman)
