Syrian Arab Army forces began entering Tabqa city from several fronts while encircling PKK militias inside Tabqa military airport in Raqqa countryside between 5:46 PM and 6:15 PM UTC on January 17, 2026, according to the army's Operations Authority via Qasemqt and BarracudaVol1 on X. The Operations Authority stated army units advanced in parallel on multiple axes into Tabqa, as confirmed by SimNasr announcing the start of the Tabqa offensive. SyrianFactCheck reported on X that army forces took control of most villages facing Raqqa city, with the city now visible, and began moving to clear Tabqa during the period. Arab tribes launched attacks on SDF positions in the Jazira area of western Raqqa countryside, capturing Al-Suwaydiyah Al-Kabira village opposite Al-Safsafa, per omar_alharir on X. Minevrax shared images of YPG members captured by the Syrian army in the area. Raqqa_SL issued an urgent appeal on X stating SDF militias stormed Mansoura town, regained its main street, and shot at civilians while running them over with armored vehicles, noting no Syrian army convoy had arrived yet. Jamil_Alhasaan reported on X the capture of prisoners from remnants of the defunct Assad regime resisting near Tabqa Airport. These developments build on Syrian army advances into nearby areas like Al-Sabkha and Mansoura earlier on January 17, as previously reported.
