Syrian army forces took control of Al-Maqs, the southern entrance to Raqqa city, captured Kesrat Faraj in the south of Raqqa city, and reached the new bridge in the southwest of the city between 9:16 PM and 9:45 PM UTC on January 17, 2026, according to Raqqa_SL and BarracudaVol1 on X. Residents of Kediran town in Raqqa countryside celebrated the liberation of their town after PKK forces were expelled, as reported by DeirEzzore on X citing Al Jazeera. DeirEzzore stated the Syrian army controls the entire left bank of the Euphrates west of the river, with forces advancing across Mansoura Bridge toward Kediran and Raqqa city. Zaino Yasser Mahameed reported on X that SDF forces withdrew from Hazima village in Raqqa countryside toward Al-Hasakah. Kurdish Ronahi TV reported heavy fighting between SDF and groups in Kasrat al Faraj in Raqqa Governorate, according to vvanwilgenburg on X. In Deir ez-Zor, DeirEzzore stated on X that Syrian army bombing continued targeting SDF headquarters in Al-Busayrah outskirts, Al-Hawaij town, and Al-Tayyana. Bedbolukbasi reported on X that SDF sent reinforcements from Al-Omar field to clash sites with Arab tribes on the Deir ez-Zor line. These advances follow Syrian army control of Mansoura Dam less than 5 km from Raqqa's western entrance earlier on January 17, as previously reported by SANA and QalaatAlMudiq.
