SHOTLIST:

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

1. VARIOUS OF RESIDENTS CELEBRATING IN STREETS OF AL-TABQAH DISTRICT OF RAQQA RAQQA, SYRIA - JAN. 18, 2026: People in the district of Al-Tabqah, in Syria's Raqqa province, took to the streets on Sunday, Jan. 18, to celebrate Syrian Army taking full control over the region from the terrorist organization YPG/SDF.

The Syrian Army established full control of the strategic al-Tabqah district in Raqqa province after expelling YPG/SDF terror group forces, state media reported early 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.

The Syrian government announced 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.

In a statement carried by SANA, the government said: “The Syrian government strongly condemns the actions of the SDF and groups affiliated with the terrorist Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in executing detainees and prisoners in the city of al-Tabqah in the countryside of Raqqa province, following their withdrawal from the city.”

“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 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.​​​​​​