Syrian Forces Seize Tabqa, Its Military Airport and Major Euphrates Dam in Rapid Push Toward Raqqa

Syrian government forces have taken full control of the strategic city of Tabqa, its military airport and the adjacent Euphrates Dam — the country's largest — following a swift offensive across Raqqa province, state media reported.

Information Minister Hamza al-Mustafa said early on Sunday that government troops secured Tabqa and the dam after expelling fighters linked to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). Damascus also accused the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and PKK-affiliated groups of executing prisoners and detainees in Tabqa, calling the alleged killings "a fully-fledged crime under the Geneva Conventions" and a breach of international humanitarian law.

The PKK is designated a terrorist organization by Turkey, the European Union and the United States.

Rapid Advance Toward Raqqa

Reporting from Aleppo, Al Jazeera correspondent Zein Basravi described a sharp acceleration in fighting across northern Syria, with government units shifting their focus from Aleppo province into Raqqa. Basravi said Syrian forces are advancing from border towns toward key population centres and that clashes were reported in and around Tabqa as troops prepared clearing operations similar to those conducted elsewhere.

"Rapid is the right word," Basravi said, noting that neighbourhood battles in Aleppo had occurred less than two weeks earlier while other SDF-held areas returned to government control within 24 hours. "All of that feels like a history lesson overnight."

The army's operations command reported earlier captures of the Mansoura Dam and several surrounding towns, placing forces less than 5 km (3 miles) from Raqqa's western gate. The command later said 64 SDF fighters surrendered in the Mansoura area after they were encircled.

Frontline Developments and Local Impact

Local officials reported that Raqqa's water supply was cut after an explosion damaged main pipelines near the city's old bridge. The state news agency SANA claimed the SDF blew up the bridge over the Euphrates. Videos circulating online showed SDF units evacuating a military hospital as fighting intensified near Tabqa's southern approaches.

Fighting has also spread to eastern Deir Az Zor, where tribal forces said they were battling SDF units across several towns in coordination with the Syrian army. A tribal military source claimed they had seized multiple positions and urged tribesmen within the SDF to lay down their arms. The SDF, meanwhile, said government forces attacked its positions in several Deir Az Zor towns and that artillery targeted areas east of the Euphrates. The Syrian army said it was sending reinforcements as operations expanded across northeast Syria.

Political and Strategic Implications

William Lawrence, a former US diplomat in the region and now a professor at the American University, told Al Jazeera the speed of the advance departs from the phased withdrawal outlined in the March 10 agreement. "I am surprised by the speed," he said, adding that the Syrian army appears to be moving in faster than agreed and that the SDF is caught between tactical retreats and the planned phased withdrawal.

"What’s happening is both sides are sort of violating the spirit, if not the exact terms of the agreement, and we’re having a chaotic change of the guard rather than a phased change of the guard," Lawrence said.

Washington has been urged to focus not only on security and counterterrorism but also on political measures to avoid undermining a durable settlement. Talks between US envoy Tom Barrack and SDF commander Mazloum Abdi (also known as Mazloum Kobani) reportedly took place in Erbil, Iraq, though no details of the discussions were released.

Note: Many battlefield claims remain unverified and reporting is often based on statements from parties to the conflict and state media. Independent confirmation on some developments—including allegations of executions and details of tactical movements—was not available at the time of reporting.