UPDATE - Syrian Army expands control in southern Raqqa, advances toward Tabqa

UPDATES WITH FURTHER CONTROL BY SYRIAN ARMY; REVISES HEADLINE, LEDE, ADDS DECK; EDITS THROUGH

By Mohammad Sio

ISTANBUL (AA) - The Syrian Army said on Saturday that it has expanded its control across Raqqa countryside, entering new towns and villages and advancing closer to the city of Tabqa, tightening pressure on the Tabqa military airbase.

The advancements come as the army announced that its forces are advancing toward Tabqa military airport as part of continued deployments west of the Euphrates River following the withdrawal of the YPG/SDF terror group.​​​​​​​

In statements carried by the Alikhbariah TV, the army’s Operations Command said forces entered the city of al-Mansoura and seized the Hajanah military camp near Tabqa.

The command added that army units also took control of the village of Rajm al-Ghazal in the Raqqa countryside, entered the town of al-Ghanem al-Ali, and that advance units are now approaching the outskirts of Tabqa city.

The army has also taken control of the town of Zur Shammar east of Raqqa and is advancing toward Sabkha, according to the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA).

Earlier, the Syrian Army said its forces have secured control of the al-Rasafa area and its historic citadel in the southern countryside of Raqqa in northeast Syria, along with seven surrounding villages.

In a statement to SANA, the army’s Operations Command said the advance has further tightened pressure on Tabqa Military Airbase, which it said PKK terrorists use as a primary base for their operations.

Earlier on Saturday, the Syrian Army announced it had taken control of the town of Dibsi Afnan and was moving toward Tabqa in Raqqa province. It also said it had established full military control over the cities of Deir Hafir and Maskanah in the eastern Aleppo countryside.

The developments came as Ferhat Abdi Sahin, a ringleader of the YPG/SDF terror group targeted by the army's military operation west of the Euphrates, claimed that terror elements would withdraw to regions east of the river starting at 7 am local time (0400GMT).

In March 2025, the Syrian presidency announced an agreement for the terrorist organization YPG/SDF's integration into state institutions, reaffirming the country’s territorial unity and rejecting any attempts at division.