The bombardment is escalating!

A suicide drone belonging to Syrian government forces targeted the village of Haji Hussein(Hec Hessen) in the Tishrin Dam area. No casualties were reported as a result of the explosion.

Four drone attacks have occurred since this morning.

SDF also announced it! Update - In the context of the military escalation and repeated attacks, Damascus factions, using suicide drones, attacked the village of Haj Hussein in the vicinity of the Tishrin Dam, in addition to the Syriatel hill and the village of Qashla.

🚨URGENT/ATTENTION

Syrian government forces are kidnapping residents of Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyeh and demanding ransom from their families.

A woman, who was kidnapped along with her two children and who did not want to give her name for the safety of her family, said, “They took my children and me hostage and released us in exchange for $700.”
The number of people abducted or missing has now exceeded 500.

Forces loyal to the Damascus government targeted Suriatel Hill in the Tishrin region at least six times with suicide drones.

Initial reports indicate no casualties.

The Syrian Democratic Forces Media Center issued a statement regarding the circulating claims about civilian movement in Deir Hafer:

We categorically deny the claims made by the Damascus "Ministry of Defense" regarding preventing civilians from fleeing Deir Hafer.

We affirm that the disruption of civilian movement is due to the military escalation and ongoing shelling by Damascus-backed factions.

The Damascus government has officially acknowledged the closure of crossings with areas of northern and eastern Syria, revealing the contradiction in its narrative.

Any forced displacement of civilians by Damascus constitutes a war crime under the Fourth Geneva Convention and the Rome Statute.

We call upon the international community, the United Nations, and human rights organizations to condemn these dangerous practices.

The people of Deir Hafer have demonstrated today their unwavering commitment to their land and homes.

SDF Update - Populated residential areas in the vicinity of Deir Hafer city were subjected to artillery shelling with three shells, carried out by Damascus factions, resulting in material damage without any information so far about human casualties.

Update – Damascus-affiliated factions continue their military escalation through indiscriminate artillery shelling of densely populated areas in the city of Deir Hafer, in a renewed attempt to pressure residents and forcibly displace them from their homes.

Over the past hour, the city has been struck by more than 20 artillery shells, in addition to an attack using an explosive-laden drone, posing a direct threat to civilians’ lives and confirming the deliberate targeting of residential neighborhoods.

Our forces are closely monitoring the situation on the ground and continue to carry out their duties, taking all necessary measures to maintain the security of the city and its residents.

Media Center of the Syrian Democratic Forces
02:00 AM
16 January 2026

🚨URGENT

A delegation from the International Coalition and the SDF arrived in the city of Mesken and headed towards Deir Hafir.

SDF PRESS:
We categorically deny what has been circulated about the downing of a drone belonging to our forces on the Deir Hafer axis, and we confirm that the aforementioned drone does not belong to our forces in any way.

🚨Urgent

The situation in Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyeh has reached an extreme level of atrocity. Internet access has been completely cut off, and the Kurdish neighborhoods have been placed under siege by Syrian regime.

Reports indicate that the Syrian authorities are carrying out massacres against civilians.

According to multiple sources, civilian homes are being set on fire while residents remain inside.

An estimated 150,000 people have been displaced, hundreds of civilians have been killed, and the neighborhoods have once again been subjected to siege conditions, during which systematic massacres have been committed against the civilian population.

It is further reported that HTS members have raided the homes of remaining residents, detaining young people whose whereabouts are currently unknown.

US Central Command to Al Arabiya English:

Our forces have arrived in Deir Hafer, east of Aleppo, to assess the situation.

We are working with our partners in Syria to de-escalate the situation in Deir Hafer.

Achieving peace in Syria is crucial for the stability of the region.

Ferhad Shami told AFP that the meeting between the SDF Command and the Coalition Command in Deir Hafir was held to reduce tensions between the SDF and Damascus.