Tribal fighters captured the SDF commando headquarters in Jazrat al-Buhamid east of Raqqa and Jazrat al-Milaj on the administrative border with Deir ez-Zor between 8:16 AM and 8:45 AM UTC on January 18, 2026, liberating the Jazrat area and opening a direct road to Raqqa city, according to omar_alharir and DeirEzzore on X. The Syrian Arab Army advanced across the river towards Raqqa during this period, as stated by BarracudaVol1 on X. Fiercest battles occurred on the Tishreen Dam front east of Aleppo between Syrian army units and PKK militants, with liberation opening the road to Ayn al-Arab, per DeirEzzore on X. Tribal fighters took control of Markada town south of Hasakah after Asayish forces and SDF leaders fled, according to nahermedia on X. Violent clashes erupted between tribal fighters and PKK militia near Al-Shaddadi south of Hasakah, as reported by omar_alharir on X. Syrian Arab Army units entered al-Kasrah town in Deir ez-Zor countryside, per mintelworld on X. The Koniko gas field in Deir ez-Zor countryside was liberated after PKK militias fled, shown in aerial views shared by omar_alharir on X. Syria's Ministry of Interior engineering teams dismantled a car bomb parked in a main street of Deir Hafir east of Aleppo without casualties, as announced by AlekhbariahSY on X quoting the ministry. Syria's Ministry of Education plans a national digital education system launch at the start of the second academic term, officials said via SANAEnOfficial on X. These developments follow Syrian army advances to within 5 km of Raqqa city center and tribal captures of Deir ez-Zor sites including oil fields earlier on January 18, as previously reported.
