Syrian army forces entered Raqqa city and established control in the center after YPG attacks targeting civilians between 3:16 PM and 3:45 PM UTC on January 18, 2026, while a convoy of Internal Security Forces headed to the Raqqa countryside to secure areas expelled of SDF, according to mintelworld on X and the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA). Tribal fighters expelled the Kurdistan Workers' Party militia from Tarawziyah and Aywa villages in the northern Raqqa countryside during the same period, as reported by omar_alharir on X. The 17th Division began artillery preparations in Raqqa, described as the last SDF military fortress in the region, per syrianFactCheck on X. Syrian army units reached the entrance to Ain Issa in northern Raqqa countryside, according to ivarmm on X. Interior Minister Anas Khattab stated on X that security forces deployed with high efficiency in new areas entered by the Syrian army to secure people, impose stability, and protect property. Information Minister Hamza Mustafa reiterated expectations of an important statement after 18:00 UTC on ceasefire talks and full SDF integration into state institutions, as posted by BarracudaVol1 on X. Street clashes occurred inside Al-Hasakah city and countryside between rebels and SDF militia, according to syrianFactCheck on X. Footage revealed a tunnel network and PKK military headquarters beneath a church in al-Tabqa, including facilities for Iranian-made suicide drones, per QUSAY_NOOR_ on X. These developments follow Syrian army access to Raqqa from the west earlier on January 18, as previously reported.
