Syrian Government Troops Enter Raqqa and Seize Major Oil Fields from Kurdish Forces
Syrian government troops have entered Raqqa and seized major oil fields. The territorial shift in the northeast has sparked urgent international diplomacy.
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Syrian 
SY government military forces and Arab tribal fighters entered the outskirts of Raqqa on January 18, 2026, marking a significant territorial shift in the country's northeast. Two military sources confirmed that tanks have begun entering the city as of Sunday, prompting thousands of residents to take to the streets to celebrate the army's advances. The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) pulled out their equipment from Raqqa prior to the government's arrival, while the Syrianarmy successfully took control of the main oil and gas fields in Deir al-Zor province east of the Euphrates River.
SY government military forces and Arab tribal fighters entered the outskirts of Raqqa on January 18, 2026, marking a significant territorial shift in the country's northeast. Two military sources confirmed that tanks have begun entering the city as of Sunday, prompting thousands of residents to take to the streets to celebrate the army's advances. The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) pulled out their equipment from Raqqa prior to the government's arrival, while the Syrianarmy successfully took control of the main oil and gas fields in Deir al-Zor province east of the Euphrates River.
