SDF/YPG forces withdrew from all oil fields in Deir ez-Zor between 7:16 AM and 7:45 AM UTC on January 18, 2026, allowing Syrian army units and tribal warriors to enter the sites one by one, according to BarracudaVol1 on X. BarracudaVol1 also claimed in the same period that a new front will be opened against Raqqa city from the Peace Spring area. These reports follow Arab tribal fighters' capture of Deir Ezzor countryside sites including the Conoco gas field, Al-Jafra oil field, and Tank Oil Field over the prior hour, as stated by omar_alharir on X. The Deir ez-Zor developments build on Syrian army advances to within 5 km of Raqqa city center earlier between 6:15 AM and 7:15 AM UTC, per Wolveri07681751 on X, amid ongoing clashes in the region.
