A delegation from Raqqa arrived in Damascus between 12:16 PM and 12:45 PM UTC on January 18, 2026, to formally hand over the city to Syrian state authorities, as tribal forces liberated Al-Asadiyah farm and captured Naim junction while residents celebrated the expulsion of SDF and PKK forces citywide, according to Levant24 and local sources including Zaino Yasser Mahamid on Telegram. Local residents raised the Syrian flag at the Clock Roundabout after defeating SDF forces, with celebrations reported across neighborhoods following mass defections and uprisings that expelled SDF and allied PKK members, per AlekhbariahSY, mintelworld, and Wolveri07681751 on X. Zaino Yasser Mahamid reported tribal advances into Al-Romania neighborhood and Al-Haganah, with an engineering team clearing mines on Imam Rasm al-Harmal Bridge and tribes heading toward the 17th Division. BarracudaVol1 stated on X that tribal forces captured Naim junction. Government sources told Levant24 of the handover delegation's arrival. QalaatAlMudiq reported on X that SDF suffered setbacks, losing control over Raqqa amid tribal actions, building on clashes in all neighborhoods reported earlier this morning by DeirEzzore on X. In related developments, Deir ez-Zor Governor Ghassan Al-Sayyed Ahmed announced Syrian government forces control the entire province after SDF withdrawal, according to ariel_oseran on X. Nahermedia shared footage of clashes between residents and SDF in Raqqa neighborhoods and monitoring at Al-Omar field east of Deir ez-Zor after SDF fled.
