SDF: Our Forces Foiled Three Attacks on the Tishreen Dam Axis

ANHA

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The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) said on Sunday that they are engaged in clashes with militants affiliated with the Syrian Interim Government in several towns and along the Tishreen Dam axis.

"Our forces, the Syrian Democratic Forces, with the participation of the Women’s Protection Units, have succeeded in foiling three attack attempts carried out by armed groups affiliated with Damascus factions on the Tishreen Dam axis," the SDF said on X.

"The defensive operations resulted in the destruction of two tanks, one armored vehicle, as well as two military vehicles loaded with DShK heavy machine guns and a bulldozer, belonging to those groups," it added, providing that clashes are still ongoing on the mentioned axis.

On Saturday, 17 January 2026, armed clashes erupted in the areas of Dibsi Afnan, the Thawra oil field and al-Rasafa in the western countryside of Raqqa, involving Syrian government forces and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), the fighting occurred at a particularly sensitive moment, coinciding with ongoing redeployment arrangements in the region. Local activists reported exchanges of mortar fire in Dibsi Afnan between forces affiliated with the Syrian Interim Government and the SDF. The clashes reportedly resulted in the deaths of several SDF fighters and one member of forces aligned with the interim government.

The violence came shortly before the SDF withdrew from a number of positions east of Aleppo, a move the group said was carried out in line with internationally brokered agreements. Earlier on Saturday, the SDF accused the Syrian Interim Government of violating those agreements, particularly concerning the towns of Dayr Hafir and Maskanah east of Aleppo.

In a statement, the SDF said the agreement stipulated that Damascus government forces would enter the two towns only after SDF units had completed their withdrawal. However, it said government forces entered the areas prematurely, creating what it described as a highly dangerous situation with the potential for serious consequences. The SDF called on international sponsors of the agreement to intervene urgently to ensure its implementation and prevent further escalation.

SDF Commander-in-Chief Mazloum Abdi said late on Friday that the withdrawal decision was taken following appeals from friendly countries and mediators, and as a demonstration of good faith in implementing the March 10 agreement and advancing the integration process.

International reactions have followed the escalation. French President Emmanuel Macron said on Sunday that a unified and stable Syria can only be achieved through the integration of the SDF, not through military confrontation with forces that fought the Islamic State (ISIS) alongside international partners. He called for an immediate halt to the offensive launched by the Syrian transitional authorities and said France and Europe could not support its continuation.

Macron described a recent presidential decree on Kurdish rights as “a step in the right direction” and reaffirmed France’s support for a negotiated settlement that preserves Syria’s unity and territorial integrity.

Meanwhile, US Central Command (CENTCOM) Commander Admiral Brad Cooper welcomed efforts to reduce hostilities and urged Syrian government forces to halt offensive operations in areas between Aleppo and al-Tabqa. He stressed that sustained pressure against ISIS requires coordination among Syrian partners and international coalition forces, adding that peace and stability in Syria are essential for regional security.



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