The Operations Authority of the Syrian Arab Army urged all SDF members seeking safety to withdraw immediately from Tabqa as events accelerate, while forces advanced toward Tabqa Military Airport from several axes to establish control and expel PKK militia and regime remnants, according to statements to SANA and posts by omar_alharir on X between 12:16 PM and 12:45 PM UTC on January 17, 2026. The Operations Authority published maps of three specific SDF-held sites in Tabqa—Sites No. 1, 2, and 3—warning civilians to stay away as these locations serve as bases for terrorist operations by PKK militia and SDF allies, per SANA reports shared on X. Syria's Defense Ministry began releasing a list of SDF targets for attack in the newly designated military zone west of Tabqa, including areas on the eastern outskirts of Dibsi Afnan bridge, according to QalaatAlMudiq on X. The SDF Media Center stated that Damascus violated an internationally sponsored agreement by besieging fighters in Deir Hafer and Maskanah with tank attacks beyond the 48-hour withdrawal deadline, holding Damascus and international sponsors responsible for the fighters' safety, in a January 17 statement. The SDF-affiliated Interior Authority imposed a total curfew in Tabqa District cities including Tabqa, Mansoura, and Al-Jarnia for security reasons, as announced by Hawar News Agency. Syrian forces reported approaching Tabqa air base, per BarracudaVol1 on X, following STG units coming under fire near Maskanah at coordinates 35.979192, 38.025448, geo-confirmed by GeoConfirmed. These developments build on the Syrian army's prior entry into Debsi Afnan west of Raqqa and declaration of a closed military zone west of the Euphrates, as previously stated by army sources including AlekhbariahSY.
