Media: PKK/YPG vacates key oil fields without resistance amid Syrian offensive

The Military Operations Directorate under Syria’s new administration, led by Ahmed al-Sharaa, has advanced into southern Raqqa and regained control of two oil fields previously held by the PKK/YPG.

According to reports from Anadolu Agency citing on-the-ground sources, Syrian forces entered the Rasafa district, an area that the previous Baath regime had handed over to the PKK/YPG terrorist organization during its withdrawal in December 2024, per Caliber.Az.

Syrian troops took control of the Zamleh and Abu al-Tabat oil fields, located west of the Euphrates River, without encountering resistance as the PKK/YPG forces vacated the area.

This move is part of a larger military operation launched by the al-Sharaa administration to eliminate the presence of the YPG, a Kurdish militia linked to the PKK, a designated terrorist organization. The operation follows the collapse of the Baath regime, which handed over portions of Syrian territory to the PKK/YPG during its final days.

The Syrian government initiated the campaign after diplomatic efforts failed to persuade the YPG to disband and sever ties with the PKK. The YPG reportedly issued an ultimatum, demanding integration into the new Syrian army as a separate special unit and a 50% share of oil and other resources in their controlled areas. These demands were categorically rejected by the al-Sharaa administration.

In response, Syrian forces, supported by the Suleyman Shah Brigade and local tribal allies, launched a series of offensives. Key villages in the Teshreen Dam region, including Graniç in Deir ez-Zor, were recaptured. Reinforcements, including tanks from the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group, have bolstered the government’s efforts.

The YPG, facing mounting pressure, has sought support from the United States to delay the military campaign. However, no substantial backing has been provided as of yet, leaving the group increasingly cornered in the region.

By Tamilla Hasanova