🚨URGENT
Critical Statement Regarding the Clashes in Dibsi Afnan

Clashes erupted in the Dibsi Afnan area, west of Raqqa, following a treacherous attack by factions of the Damascus government on our forces' positions, in clear violation of the internationally brokered agreement.

The agreement stipulated a ceasefire and a 48-hour deadline for our forces to withdraw from the towns of Deir Hafer and Maskana. However, the Damascus government deployed military convoys, heavy weapons, and tanks to the area before the withdrawal was complete and attacked our fighters, resulting in the martyrdom of several of them.

We hold those who violated the agreement and betrayed our forces fully responsible for this escalation. We also hold the international powers sponsoring the agreement responsible for what is happening and call upon them to intervene immediately to stop the violations and prevent further deterioration of the situation.

SDF Media Center
January 17, 2026

Founder of the YPG International Battalion, Karim Franceschi on X:

"As expected given the compressed timeline, roughly 10 hours from the announced withdrawal from the ~900 km² pocket, multiple SDF elements were caught mid-retrograde.

Motorized Syrian MoD–aligned forces exploited the transition window and penetrated as far as Maskana within minutes, cutting off marching SDF infantry columns."

@KurdishFrontReport

🚨URGENT

Senior Kurdish official @ElhamAhmadSDC "yesterday, the SDF agreed to withdraw its forces from the western bank of the Euphrates, including the towns of Deitr Hafer and Maskanah. However, units affiliated with the Syrian Transitional Government (STG), have violated this agreement. Heavy clashes are now under way between both sides in Maskanah. We hold the STG fully accountable for this breach and for provoking violence against the SDF."

Currently, SDF and YPJ forces are responding to attacks by HTS, affiliated with the Damascus government, and SNA forces, affiliated with the Turkish state; intense clashes are taking place in the region.

🚨URGENT

The Interior Committee of the Autonomous Administration announced a curfew!
-The curfew has been announced in the Tabqa Canton until an indefinite period
-The curfew is in the cities of Tabqa, Cirinia and Mansoura

🚨ATTENTION

The video evidence proves how the Damascus government forces and the Turkish-backed SNA militias violated the agreement. As SDF forces withdrew, HTS and SNA militias, along with dormant ISIS cells they had activated, attacked the SDF forces.

They are plundering everywhere they go!

HTS and SNA forces began looting and stealing belongings from civilians' homes in Deir Hafer after the SDF withdrew.

They do the same thing at Sheikh Maqsoud.

As a result of the Damascus government's treachery and violation of the internationally brokered agreement, groups of our fighters remain besieged in the towns of Deir Hafer and Maskana, despite the agreement stipulating a 48-hour deadline for our forces to withdraw. The Damascus government violated the agreement and attacked our fighters using tanks.

We hold the Damascus government and the international powers sponsoring the agreement fully responsible for the safety and lives of our besieged fighters, and we emphasize the necessity of ensuring their safe passage, along with their weapons, to areas in northern and eastern Syria.

SDF Media Center
January 17, 2026

Clash scene/First attack repelled!

Clashes erupted after Damascus forces attacked SDF fighters who were in the process of withdrawing from the town of Maskanah. SDF and YPJ fighters responded to the attacks.