The Syrian army launched artillery operations and pre-emptive bombardment on Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and YPG targets in Deir Hafer and Maskanah, eastern Aleppo countryside, between 7:16 PM and 7:45 PM UTC on January 16, 2026, following Defense Ministry identification of sites used for attacks including suicide drones on Aleppo last week, according to X posts by @mintelworld, @syrianFactCheck, @QalaatAlMudiq, and @anasanas84. The Operations Authority reported strikes on a specific site on the eastern outskirts of Deir Hafer at coordinates 36.146227, 37.725034, previously mapped as a launch point for drones targeting Aleppo, as stated by @QalaatAlMudiq on X. Reports noted aircraft flying in the airspace over the area during the operations, per @syrianFactCheck. These actions follow Syrian Arab Army warnings issued earlier on January 16 for civilians to evacuate SDF- and PKK-held sites in Deir Hafer, as previously reported. Separately, the Turkish Army published images of a new batch of special forces from Sivas Province departing for Syria on special missions, according to Almihwar News. A Kurdish hacking group released files alleging involvement of Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham leaders, including Colonel Sheikh Abu Abdo of the 72nd Division, in relations with soldiers' wives, including a video clip, as published by Ugarit News. An SDF-affiliated account dismissed Damascus claims of regime figures like Ali Kayali in SDF areas as fabricated, per @farhad_shami on X.
