Syrian forces close in on Raqqa as SDF comes under pressure
TL;DR
Syrian government troops captured Tabqa and the Tabqa Dam west of Raqqa and advanced toward the city, signaling a rapid offensive against the US-backed SDF. The army also seized oilfields in the northeast and, amid clashes, the SDF withdrew from Deir Hafer, prompting U.S. calls for restraint. Kurdish authorities meanwhile issued a decree recognizing Kurdish as a national language, highlighting widening political shifts as Damascus seeks broader control over northeastern Syria.
- Syrian army advances on SDF stronghold of Raqqa: What’s the latest? Al Jazeera
- Syria’s military has seized swathes of Kurdish-held territory. Here’s what we know CNN
- Syrian army seizes country's largest oil field from Kurdish forces BBC
- Syria live: Government, SDF agree on immediate ceasefire – State media Al Jazeera
- Syrian government forces sweep into Raqqa in ongoing push into Kurdish-held areas ABC News
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