Syrian Democratic Forces claimed Turkish forces provided drone strikes in support of pro-government fighters during prolonged clashes over Kherab al-Ashq village in the southern Kobani countryside between 6:16 p.m. and 6:45 p.m. UTC on Jan. 26, 2026, marking the first such close air support intervention, according to X user NotWoofers. Kherab al-Ashq lies outside the Lafarge cement plant along the M4 highway, a strategically important target for the pro-government Syrian Transitional Government forces. These claims follow Syrian forces' recent captures of Celebiye, Mebuca, and Abu Hayya south of Ayn al-Arab after SDF withdrawal from the Lafarge factory earlier on Jan. 26, as previously reported by X user BarracudaVol1. In Al-Hasakah, SDF militias entered Al-Jawadiya town and bombarded Al-Safa and Karhouk villages in the Al-Yarubiyah countryside northeast of the city with rocket launchers during the same period, according to Al-Sharqiya Official Reporter. This escalation continues prior SDF shelling in the southern Al-Jawadiyah countryside reported earlier on Jan. 26. Separately, the first recruits from former SDF-held areas arrived at Qabun Academy in Damascus to begin a two-month training program for security forces, as stated by X user QalaatAlMudiq. A recruitment campaign in Deir Ezzor province drew heavy crowds, overwhelming centers.
