Syrian Democratic Forces members bombed the Tabqa area and clashed with Syrian Arab Army units in Raqqa city near the military hospital and Saif al-Dawla neighborhood between 5:46 PM and 6:15 PM UTC on January 18, 2026, according to Zaino Yasser Mahamid on Telegram and Sonia reports. Al-Watan reported fierce clashes continuing in Tabqa city. Syrian President Ahmed al-Shara stated the ceasefire agreement ends the autonomous administration as a civilian and military institution, with Syrian institutions entering all geography and coordinating with local security elements, as posted by kulliyatX on X. The Syrian Army fired rockets toward SDF forces in Raqqa, per RoyaNewsEnglish on X. In Deir ez-Zor, Governor Ghassan Al-Sayyed Ahmed and the Minister of Health inspected wounded Syrian Arab Army soldiers at Deir ez-Zor National Hospital, according to alsharqia24news on X. These clashes follow a ceasefire agreement between the Syrian government and SDF earlier on January 18, including SDF integration into state institutions, as previously reported.
