Syrian government seizes strategic town and oil fields from Kurdish forces in ongoing push eastward
Associated Press
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Residents topple a statue of a female Kurdish fighter after the takeover of the town by Syrian government forces from U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), in Tabqa, eastern Syria, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)Residents wave a Syrian flag atop a toppled statue of a female Kurdish fighter, with one holding a statue's replica AK-47 that was part of the statue, after the takeover of the town by Syrian government forces from U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), in Tabqa, eastern Syria, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)Residents topple a statue of a female Kurdish fighter after the takeover of the town by Syrian government forces from U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), in Tabqa, eastern Syria, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)Female soldiers of the Kurdish-led, U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) march during a military parade in Qamishli, northeastern Syria, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. Syrian government forces have seized a strategic towns in eastern Syria, intensifying their push against Kurdish-led forces east of the Euphrates River.(AP Photo/Baderkhan Ahmad)Residents topple a statue of a female Kurdish fighter after the takeover of the town by Syrian government forces from U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), in Tabqa, eastern Syria, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)
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Residents topple a statue of a female Kurdish fighter after the takeover of the town by Syrian government forces from U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), in Tabqa, eastern Syria, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)