Media: Türkiye deploys fighter jets in operations in northern Syria

Türkiye has deployed fighter jets in support of the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) during ongoing combat operations against the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in northern Syria. 

Sources indicate that, with Turkish backing, Syrian government troops have inflicted heavy losses on SDF units across several fronts, Caliber.Az reports per RegNews. 

Fighting has been particularly intense in areas east of Aleppo and around key infrastructure sites, as government forces push to reassert control over territory long held by the SDF. The situation on the ground remains highly volatile, with continued clashes and rapidly shifting front lines.

On January 18, Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa announced a comprehensive ceasefire and an agreement on the full integration of the SDF into state structures, presenting it as a major step toward restoring government authority in northeastern Syria.

Tensions had already risen earlier in January 2026. Clashes erupted in Aleppo’s Sheikh Maqsood and Ashrafieh neighborhoods, leading to an SDF withdrawal from the city by January 11 under US-brokered mediation. In an apparent effort to ease Kurdish concerns, President al-Sharaa issued decrees on January 16–17 recognising Kurdish as a national language, restoring citizenship to many Kurds, and declaring Nowruz an official holiday. While described by Damascus as confidence-building measures, Kurdish representatives said the steps fell short of their expectations.

Despite these moves, Syrian government forces launched a swift offensive on January 17–18, capturing Deir Hafer, Maskanah, and the strategically important town of Tabqa, including the Euphrates dam, and advancing toward Raqqa. The army also seized several energy facilities and villages east of Aleppo, often with the backing of local Arab tribes.

By Sabina Mammadli