DEIR HAFER, Syria (AP) — Syrian government forces entered two northern towns Saturday morning after the command of Kurdish-led fighters said that it would evacuate from the area, in an apparent move to avoid conflict. Clashes were reported in other parts of northern Syria as government forces pushed east. It ended with the evacuation of Kurdish fighters from three neighborhoods taken over by government forces. Some of the factions that now make up the Syrian army were formerly Turkish-backed insurgent groups that have a long history of clashing with Kurdish forces. Abdi said that SDF fighters would relocate east of the Euphrates River starting at 7 a.m. (0400 GMT) Saturday.

Source: Ethiopian News January 18, 2026 06:44 UTC