SHOTLIST:

TABQAH, RAQQA, SYRIA (JAN. 18, 2026) (ANADOLU – ACCESS ALL)

1. VARIOUS DRONE SHOTS OF EUPHRATES DAM TABQAH, RAQQA, SYRIA - JAN. 18, 2026: The Syrian army has established control in the strategically significant Tabqah district of Syria’s Raqqa province, including the Euphrates Dam area, on Sunday.

The Syrian Army Operations Department said government forces secured the district and cleared it of YPG/SDF terrorists, according to the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA).

The Media and Information Department of the Defense Ministry said 483 members of the terror group contacted authorities to defect.

A statement indicated that 181 have surrendered to security forces.

Besides, the Operations Command told SANA that army forces have taken control of the Euphrates Dam.

According to the Syrian Interior Ministry, security forces began deploying in al-Tabqah, west of Raqqa province, after the army forces expelled PKK terrorists from the city.

“The deployment aims to protect civilians, enhance security and stability, and secure vital facilities and public and private property, in full coordination with the army,” it added.

The ministry said it is continuing its efforts to restore normal life and consolidate security and stability in the city.

Earlier, the army’s Operations Command announced full control of al-Tabqah military airport.

The Syrian government said that the SDF carried out executions of detainees and prisoners in al-Tabqah, shortly before withdrawing from the city following the army’s advance early Sunday morning.

“The Syrian government strongly condemns the actions of the SDF and groups affiliated with the PKK terrorist group in executing detainees and prisoners in the city of al-Tabqah in the countryside of Raqqa province, following their withdrawal from the city,” it said in a statement.

“The execution of prisoners and detainees, particularly civilians among them, constitutes a fully fledged crime under the Geneva Conventions and represents a blatant violation of international humanitarian law.”

“This criminal behavior reflects the militia-like nature of the SDF and its methods of taking civilians and prisoners as hostages,” the statement added.

The Syrian government held the SDF fully responsible and pledged fair legal accountability to the victims’ families.

Although the YPG/SDF terror group previously claimed it would withdraw from occupied territories west of the Euphrates River to the eastern bank, the group maintains its occupation in several areas along the river.

Clashes are said to have continued between government forces and the terror group in regions where the occupation persists.