Syrian Army Expands Control in North as Kurdish Forces Withdraw

Syrian government forces are rapidly expanding their control across northern Syria, capitalizing on the withdrawal of Kurdish-led militias from key towns and villages. This significant shift is altering the military landscape in the region, bringing large areas back under the authority of Damascus without major clashes.

The Syrian Arab Army has moved into multiple strategic locations east of Aleppo city, including the towns of Deir Hafer, Maskanah, and dozens of surrounding villages [52375][52437][52470]. This advance followed a coordinated withdrawal by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a primary U.S. partner in the fight against the Islamic State group (ISIS) [52385][52326]. The SDF stated it was repositioning its fighters east of the Euphrates River to avoid conflict [52198][52385].

"The army has taken full control of the towns... after the withdrawal of the YPG/SDF militia from the area," reported Syria's state news agency, SANA [52470]. The YPG, or People's Protection Units, is the main militia within the SDF and is considered a terrorist organization by Turkey and the Syrian government [52198][52654].

The military repositioning marks a major realignment. It allows President Bashar al-Assad's government to re-establish authority over territory it had not held for years, particularly in the eastern Aleppo countryside near the border of Raqqa province [52470]. The Syrian Army has also issued directives to its soldiers to protect civilians in areas being vacated by the withdrawing forces [52654].

Concurrently, the Syrian Army is advancing on separate fronts against ISIS. Pro-government forces have secured positions near the strategic Tabqa Dam and are closing in on the Tabqa airbase, west of the ISIS stronghold of Raqqa [52549][52649]. These operations aim to further isolate ISIS fighters in their former de facto capital.

The territorial gains come amid rare diplomatic contact, with President Assad meeting a delegation of European Union legislators in Damascus [45611]. Analysts view the military progress and the diplomatic outreach as part of a concerted effort by Damascus to project stability and consolidating control after over a decade of war.