Following recent clashes in the Raqqa countryside, reports indicate that the Syrian Army and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have reached an agreement to de-escalate tensions. The agreement aims to halt hostilities in the southeastern Raqqa region, located in northeastern Syria.
Sources close to the Syrian government suggest that the agreement, brokered between the Syrian Ministry of Defense and the SDF, includes a ceasefire and a cessation of mutual shelling and targeting. This development follows heightened tensions in the Maadan area of southeastern Raqqa in recent days.
Over the past two days, front lines have witnessed infiltration attempts and shelling involving various types of heavy and medium weaponry. Drone strikes and intense clashes, reportedly the fiercest between the two sides in recent times, have resulted in casualties on both sides.
The sources claim that the Syrian Army has regained control of positions infiltrated by SDF elements on Wednesday night, during which two Syrian soldiers were allegedly killed and nine others wounded. Disturbing reports have also emerged regarding the treatment of the deceased soldiers’ bodies by SDF fighters.
During a meeting held on Friday, the SDF reportedly demanded the withdrawal of the Syrian Army from the recaptured positions. However, this demand was allegedly rejected by the Syrian Army. The meeting was reportedly coordinated between the Syrian Army and the International Coalition, which urged calm and adherence to a previous agreement reached on March 10th.
The meeting was convened in the wake of renewed clashes between the Syrian Army and the SDF along the Maadan axis. Fighting also escalated in the Ghanem al-Ali village area, with reports of heavy weapons being used. Prior to this, on Wednesday night, fierce clashes erupted following an SDF attack on Syrian Army positions in the town of Maadan in the Raqqa governorate.
The Syrian Ministry of Defense announced on Thursday the death of two soldiers in an attack carried out by the SDF in the Raqqa countryside. The SDF controls most of the southwestern Raqqa countryside, areas reportedly handed over by the former regime following its fall on December 8th of last year.
It is important to note that the details surrounding these events remain contested, and independent verification is challenging.
