SHOTLIST:

ALEPPO, SYRIA (JANUARY 17, 2026) (ANADOLU - ACCESS ALL)

1. VARIOUS OF DEIR HAFIR RESIDENTS CHEERING AS SYRIAN ARMY FORCES MOVE THROUGH STREETS

2. VARIOUS OF SYRIAN ARMY FORCES IN DEIR HAFIR, EAST OF ALEPPO

3. SYRIAN ARMY HELICOPTER FLYING OVER DEIR HAFIR

4. VARIOUS OF RESIDENTS CELEBRATING IN STREETS
ALEPPO, SYRIA - JANUARY 17, 2026: The Syrian Army on Saturday announced that it has taken full control of the cities of Deir Hafir and Maskanah east of Aleppo, following the withdrawal of the YPG/SDF terror group toward the east of the Euphrates.

The Army’s Operations Command told the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA): “We announce the full establishment of our military control over the city of Deir Hafir in the eastern Aleppo countryside.”

It added that army forces are working to secure the city and clear it of landmines and war remnants.

Later, the army’s Operations Command told SANA that its forces “have expanded control over an area extending approximately 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) east of Deir Hafir city in the eastern countryside of Aleppo.”

The command also said that army units took control of the Al-Jarrah Military Airport “while facilitating the withdrawal of more than 200 members of SDF organization with their weapons.”

It also announced the establishment of control over 34 villages and towns in the eastern Aleppo countryside.

It added that units of the Syrian Army took control of the city of Maskanah east of Aleppo and are moving toward the neighboring area of Dibsi Afnan, noting that “hundreds of SDF members have surrendered to the army.”

Army units are "ensuring the exit of more than 200 SDF elements with their weapons,” it added.

Separately, the command said Syrian Army forces had entered the village of Jefeirah in eastern Aleppo on Saturday.

Earlier, the Syrian Army announced that its forces had begun entering areas west of the Euphrates, starting with Deir Hafir.

These developments come as Ferhat Abdi Sahin -- a ringleader of the YPG/SDF terror group -- targeted by the army's military operation west of the Euphrates, claimed that terror elements would withdraw to regions east of the river starting at 7 am local time (0400GMT).

The Syrian Army declared areas west of the Euphrates, particularly Deir Hafir and Maskanah, military zones on Jan. 13 and launched an operation against identified terror targets after establishing humanitarian corridors on the M15 highway for civilian evacuations.

On Monday, the Syrian Army sent additional forces to eastern Aleppo after detecting the arrival of more SDF members and remnants of the ousted regime near the towns of Maskanah and Deir Hafir.

In March 2025, the Syrian presidency announced an agreement for the terrorist organization YPG/SDF's integration into state institutions, reaffirming the country’s territorial unity and rejecting any attempts at division.

However, authorities said the SDF has failed to comply with the terms of those agreements.

The Syrian government has intensified efforts to restore security nationwide since the ouster of the Bashar al-Assad regime in December 2024, after 24 years in power.