Syrian government forces seize strategic town in Raqqa as SDF retreats

As part of an ongoing offensive against the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) east of the Euphrates River, government forces have taken control of a key town in eastern Syria.

Following earlier this month’s bloody fighting between Damascus and the US-backed SDF, which resulted in the government removing control of three Aleppo city neighbourhoods from the group, the rapid army operation took place on Sunday.

Due to a nearby dam, which regulates the southward flow of water into areas controlled by the SDF, the advance of Sunday into Tabqa, in Raqqa province, is seen as crucial.

A March agreement that was intended to reintegrate northeastern Syria and Kurdish-led forces into the Syrian state was allegedly violated by the government and the SDF.

The SDF has long been Washington’s most important ally in the fight against the ISIL (ISIS) group and controls large swathes of northeastern Syria. The US has maintained close ties with the SDF over the course of that time and made efforts to avert conflict between the two parties.

Following the deadly clashes in Aleppo this month, which claimed the lives of 23 people and caused tens of thousands of people to flee. Following an announcement by Syrian official al-Sharaa regarding measures to strengthen Kurdish rights in Syria, SDF leader Mazloum Abdi (also known as Mazloum Kobani) announced on Friday that the organization would withdraw its forces from areas east of the Euphrates.

Tabqa is the most recent area of Raqqa province, where government forces have taken control of a population with a majority of Arabs. The Syrian military’s intentions for the Kurdish heartland are still undetermined.

The SDF is also accused of killing prisoners in Tabqa before stepping down, according to the Syrian government.

The SDF has refuted the claim, saying that it fired on the facility after detainees were removed from the prison.