The Syrian army told Al Jazeera that it has completed securing the Tishrin Dam in the Aleppo countryside, along with the northern countryside of Raqqa and the western countryside of Al-Hasakah, coinciding with the start of the withdrawal of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) from the area following intense clashes on both banks of the Euphrates River over the past two days.
The army confirmed that its forces have begun deploying across the Al-Jazira region to secure it under the agreement signed between the Syrian government and the SDF, calling on civilians to comply with military instructions and limit movement to cases of necessity.
Meanwhile, an Al Jazeera correspondent reported that the Syrian army has established full control over the Tishrin Dam area in the northern Aleppo countryside and has sent additional military reinforcements to consolidate its presence.
The correspondent added that army units are conducting sweeping operations in and around the Tishrin Dam area, noting that engineering teams detonated a landmine during their advance, while SDF forces had planted mines along roads surrounding the dam.
He also reported that a drone attempted to target Syrian army forces during the clearing operations in the vicinity of the dam, as the army proceeded to reopen several roads leading to the area.
In a related development, Syria’s Ministry of Interior announced that its units have begun entering the eastern countryside of Deir ez-Zor province as part of a plan aimed at establishing organized deployment across towns and villages.
The ministry stated that this step is part of a comprehensive security plan to protect civilians and public and private property, while strengthening security and stability in the region.
These developments come ahead of an anticipated meeting between Syrian President Ahmad Al-Sharaa and SDF commander Mazloum Abdi later today, following the Syrian presidency’s announcement on Sunday of an agreement with the SDF to halt hostilities and fully integrate its forces into the Syrian army.
The 14-point agreement stipulates the immediate administrative and military handover of Deir ez-Zor and Raqqa provinces to the Syrian government, the integration of all civilian institutions in Al-Hasakah province into state institutions, and the removal of heavy military presence from Ayn al-Arab.
Under the agreement, the Syrian government will assume full control of border crossings and oil and gas fields in the region, while SDF leadership commits to refraining from incorporating remnants of the former regime into its ranks and to submitting lists of their names.
