Syrian army missile attacks targeted PYD/SDF militia headquarters in the first district of Tabqa city west of Raqqa between 2:46 PM and 3:15 PM UTC on January 17, 2026, the army command stated as reported by ebuyahya001 on X. Urgent appeals reached from Tabqa National Hospital where militias barricaded inside with dozens of patients and premature babies, according to Raqqa_SL on X. Al-Julani-affiliated groups advanced towards Tabqa city and targeted SDF militia headquarters in its first district, NAYA reported on X. SDF militias bombarded gatherings of Al-Julani groups in Maskanah and Deir Hafir from Ayed Junction west of Raqqa, per another NAYA post. YPG targets were hit, Ebuselmnbelarus stated on X. Syrian army forces took control of two villages south of Al-Mansurah town west of Raqqa, BarracudaVol1 posted on X. The army gathered in the Tishrin Dam area east of Aleppo to strengthen deployments and increase preparedness, according to the same source. Security forces entered Deir Hafer town in eastern Aleppo, allowing the first displaced residents who evacuated over the past two days to return, QalaatAlMudiq reported on X. An important statement from Arab clans and tribes is expected within hours, syrianFactCheck noted on X. These developments follow Syrian army advances including control of Rusafa citadel, seven villages, and Tabqa airport south of Raqqa earlier on January 17, as previously reported.
