UPDATE 3 - Syrian Army seizes control of strategic al-Tabqah district in Raqqa

UPDATES WITH DETAILS, ADDS DECK

By Alperen Aktas and Rania Abushamala

ISTANBUL (AA) - The Syrian Army established full control of the strategic al-Tabqah district in Raqqa province after expelling YPG/SDF terror group forces, state media reported early Sunday.

The Syrian Army’s Operations Command said government forces secured the district and cleared it of YPG/SDF terrorists, according to the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA).

The Media and Information Department of the Defense Ministry said 483 members of the terror group contacted authorities to defect.

A statement indicated that 181 have surrendered to security forces.

Besides, the Operations Command told SANA that army forces have taken control of the Euphrates Dam.

According to the Syrian Interior Ministry, security forces began deploying in al-Tabqah, west of Raqqa province, after the army forces expelled PKK terrorists from the city.

“The deployment aims to protect civilians, enhance security and stability, and secure vital facilities and public and private property, in full coordination with the army,” it added.

The ministry said it is continuing its efforts to restore normal life and consolidate security and stability in the city.

Earlier, the Army’s Operations Command announced full control of al-Tabqah military airport.

According to Alikhbariah TV, Syrian army forces arrested several SDF elements during security sweeps around Al-Tabqah.

Seprately, the Syrian Ministry of Energy said army units regained control of the Euphrates Dam, ending years of SDF control and restoring management and operations to specialized staff.

The dam includes a hydroelectric power plant with eight generating units, each with a capacity of 110 megawatts, making it one of Syria’s most vital energy facilities, according to the ministry.

The Euphrates Lake stretches about 80 km in length, up to 8 km in width, with a storage capacity of 14.1 billion cubic meters.

Meanwhile, the Syrian government said that the SDF carried out executions of detainees and prisoners in al-Tabqah, shortly before withdrawing from the city following the army’s advance early Sunday morning.

“The Syrian government strongly condemns the actions of the SDF and groups affiliated with the PKK terrorist group in executing detainees and prisoners in the city of al-Tabqah in the countryside of Raqqa province, following their withdrawal from the city,” it said in a statement.

“The execution of prisoners and detainees, particularly civilians among them, constitutes a fully fledged crime under the Geneva Conventions and represents a blatant violation of international humanitarian law.”

“This criminal behavior reflects the militia-like nature of the SDF and its methods of taking civilians and prisoners as hostages,” the statement added.

The Syrian government held the SDF fully responsible and pledged fair legal accountability to the victims’ families.

Although the YPG/SDF terror group previously claimed it would withdraw from occupied territories west of the Euphrates River to the eastern bank, the group maintains its occupation in several areas along the river.

Clashes are said to have continued between government forces and the terror group in regions where the occupation persists.