Syrian Army Announces New Military Zone Extending to Raqqa City Center, Signaling Eastward Expansion

In a strategic escalation, the Syrian Army’s General Command officially designated the area west of the Euphrates River as a “closed military zone.” A published map of the zone confirms it stretches to the central point of Raqqa city, the former de facto capital of ISIS located on the river’s eastern bank.

Reason for Declaration:
The move comes in response to recent attacks by the YPG terrorist organization on Syrian Army positions. The military command has urgently called on civilians in the western Euphrates region to immediately evacuate areas near positions held by the PKK terrorist organization, remnants of the former regime, and the YPG.

Recent Operational Context:

• On January 13, the army declared several areas in the western Euphrates, including Deir Hafir and Maskaneh, as military zones.

• Operations launched at 22:00 that evening resulted in the army securing full control over both strategic towns.

• Advancing from Maskaneh, army units also liberated the Dibsi Afnan area in southwestern Raqqa countryside.

Casualties & Ongoing Attacks:

• During these operations, two Syrian soldiers were martyred in Maskaneh due to YPG fire.

• The Syrian Ministry of Defense further reported that YPG elements targeted correspondents from the official SANA news agency and military media teams near Dibsi Afnan. No casualty figures from this attack were immediately provided.

The Defense Ministry stated that YPG-linked armed groups are entrenched in several western Euphrates villages, attacking army units, and obstructing the implementation of a previously agreed-upon settlement with the government. These actions are heightening tensions and threatening civilian safety.

The Syrian Army has consolidated control over Dibsi Afnan and asserts that “military operations are continuing according to planned objectives,” with field developments being closely monitored.

This declaration is a clear precursor to a potential large-scale offensive east of the Euphrates, aimed at recapturing territories held by the US-backed YPG/SDF, which Damascus designates as a terrorist group. It significantly raises the risk of direct confrontation between Syrian forces and the YPG, potentially drawing reactions from international actors involved in northeastern Syria.