Tribal fighters captured the Military Intelligence Branch in Raqqa city center and took control east of the city between 11:16 AM and 11:45 AM UTC on January 18, 2026, as SDF commando forces completely withdrew from four main points in the city and countryside toward Hasakah, according to omar_alharir and zamanalwsl on X. BarracudaVol1 reported on X that SDF/YPG lost control east of Raqqa city with clashes ongoing on Sayf al-Dawla Street in the center. Zaino Yasser Mahamid posted on Telegram images of burning SDF cars at Al-Barazi roundabout and stated an SDF al-Shabiba sniper was neutralized in Saif al-Dawla neighborhood. Almo2tasem91 shared images on X of Arab tribes seizing PYD/SDF cars in Raqqa city. An informed source told syrianFactCheck on X that SDF chief Mazloum Abdi refused to sign a document dissolving the SDF, offered to abandon Arab regions for political decentralization in Ain al-Arab and Al-Hasakah, dropped prior demands for Afrin, Sheikh Maqsoud and Peace Spring areas, but all demands were rejected. SDF spokesperson Mahmoud Habib told Al-Hadath that they received American assurances against abandonment in Raqqa and Deir ez-Zor, per vvanwilgenburg on X. Alsharqia24news reported on X SDF military convoys withdrawing from Al-Shaddadi in southern Hasakah countryside. BarracudaVol1 stated on X that Syrian Army entered Abu Heshab north of Deir ez-Zor after tribal warriors captured it. A Syrian official told The National that the army captured Deir Ezzor governorate from SDF, including key oil and gas fields. Zaino Yasser Mahamid posted on Telegram images of clans taking weapons from SDF vehicles in Al-Arisha next to a dam in Hasakah.
