Syrian Arab Army forces crossed the Euphrates River and entered Al-Husseiniyah town opposite Deir ez-Zor city, while tribal forces liberated Hawaj Boumsa'a north of Muhimidah, Hermusiya opposite Tebni, and Marrat opposite Deir ez-Zor airport from SDF control between 11:46 PM on January 17 and 12:15 AM UTC on January 18, 2026, according to DeirEzzore and BarracudaVol1 on X. Deir ez-Zor sources confirmed Syrian army entry into Husayniya, per BarracudaVol1 on X. The Al-Bakara clan expelled SDF from Harmushiyeh village, as stated by Zaino Yasser Mahameed on X. Nahr_Media correspondent reported SDF mortar shells falling on Taybeh town east of Deir ez-Zor from positions in Al-Hawaij town. In Raqqa countryside, the Syrian government condemned SDF and PKK-affiliated groups for executing prisoners in Tabqa city after their withdrawal, holding the organization responsible and pledging legal accountability, according to an official statement shared by HmzhMo on X. Zaino Yasser Mahameed reported the defection of PYD/SDF militia CEO Hamid Al-Faraj in Tabqa. Al-Ikhbariya correspondent Hamed Al-Ali was injured in a PKK/SDF attack at Tabqa city entrance, per omar_alharir on X. SDF reported intense clashes in al-Mansoura against Syrian government-aligned gunmen, according to AJENews. These developments follow Syrian army seizure of Tabqa city and Tishreen Dam west of Raqqa earlier on January 17, as previously reported.
