Syrian Army Captures Strategic Oil and Gas Fields in Deir ez-Zor as SDF Retreats East of Euphrates

A military source told Al Jazeera that the Syrian Army has fully secured the region west of the Euphrates, forcing SDF units to retreat. Heavy machinery belonging to the army has begun entering the recaptured oil sites to secure them.

Control of Strategic Energy Fields The Syrian Petroleum Company confirmed that the army has established control over several major oil and gas fields in Deir ez-Zor. These include the strategic Al-Omar Oil Field, Al-Tanak, the Conoco Gas Field, Al-Jafra, Al-Azba, and the Tayyana, Jido, Maleh, and Azraq fields. The company is currently awaiting the complete stabilization of security in these areas to resume operations and production.

Military Advances and Tribal Uprisings Simultaneously, the Syrian Army captured the city of Shuhail in the eastern countryside of Deir ez-Zor. Local tribal forces, coordinating with the army, announced they had seized the Markada district in southern Hasakah and are engaging SDF forces in multiple locations. In the Kisrah district, the Deir ez-Zor Media Directorate reported the liberation of over 200 prisoners from SDF jails.

SDF Response and Infrastructure Sabotage In response to the advances, the SDF-affiliated Autonomous Administration accused the Syrian government of violating agreements. Reports from the official Syrian news agency (SANA) indicate that SDF forces detonated the Rashid Bridge in Raqqa, just hours after destroying the “Old Bridge” on the Euphrates in the same city. This follows the Syrian Army’s capture of the Tabqa Military Airport.

Civilian Impact and Defections Tensions remain high, with the Governor of Deir ez-Zor announcing the suspension of all public institutions and university exams to ensure public safety. He accused the SDF of shelling civilian neighborhoods in government-controlled areas. Meanwhile, Mashlab al-Turkan, the co-chair of the Executive Council in the Raqqa Civil Council, announced his defection from the SDF. In a message to the people of Raqqa, he declared his support for the “unity of Syrian territory” and urged fighters and civil servants to join the Syrian state.