Syrian troops fighting Kurdish forces in north-eastern Syria have seized the country's largest oilfield, the Omar facility, which is now under army control following the withdrawal of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
The military advance comes after the SDF announced plans to redeploy east of the Euphrates River, following deadly clashes last week and negotiations with US officials. Earlier, the Syrian army had captured the strategic Tabqa dam on the Euphrates.
These developments signal a significant shift in control over Syria's oil-rich regions, previously managed by Kurdish forces who gained control during the fight against the Islamic State group.
Over the weekend, Syrian troops moved further east, entering the town of Tabqa and seizing the Omar oil field, a crucial revenue source for the SDF.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights confirmed the SDF's withdrawal from villages in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor and support from a UK-based monitoring group. Additionally, accusations have been made against the SDF for damaging infrastructure, including bridges across the Euphrates River.
This conflict persists despite US attempts to broker a ceasefire, which underline the complexity of international involvement and support for both the Kurdish forces and the Syrian government. As President Ahmed al-Sharaa seeks to integrate Kurdish groups into national institutions, the road ahead remains uncertain, with each side blaming the other for the failure to implement previous agreements.
