Syrian army seizes oil and gas fields after fighting Kurdish-led forces

Syrian troops have seized the country's largest oil field as well as a gas field after fighting US-backed Kurdish-led forces.

The takeover of the Omar oil field to the east of the Euphrates River was a major blow to the group as it provided a key source of revenue.

The Syrian army also captured the Conoco gas ‌field in the eastern Deir Zor province, as part of an advance into areas of northeast Syria controlled by the historically US-backed ​Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

Syrian government officials said the oil wealth the militia had controlled to sustain its self-administered region had deprived the state of much-needed revenue.

Last week, Syrian President Ahmed al Sharaa said it was unacceptable for a militia to control a quarter of the country and hold its main oil and commodities resources.

The Syrian army ‍also took control of the northern city of Tabqa and its adjacent dam, as well as the major Freedom Dam, formerly known as the Baath Dam, west of Raqqa late on Saturday.

The advance continued despite Washington's calls to halt the offensive.

Brad Cooper, who heads the US ‍military's Central Command, said on X on Saturday that Syrian troops should "cease any offensive actions in areas" between the city of Aleppo and the town of Tabqa, about 100 miles (160km) further east.

The US has had to recalibrate its Syria policy to balance years of support for the SDF - which fought against Islamic State - with Washington's support for Syria's new president, whose rebel forces ousted dictator Bashar al Assad in late 2024.

Kurdish-led forces were overwhelmed following offensives ‍led by Arab tribal fighters, a government source said, allowing the Syrian government and its tribal allies to move into a more than 150km (93-mile) stretch of territory starting from Baghouz near ⁠the Iraqi border towards key towns including ‌al Shuhail and Busayra.

The ‌latest violence has deepened the fractures between the government led by Mr Sharaa, who has vowed to reunify Syria after 14 years of war, and ‍local Kurdish authorities wary of his Islamist-led administration.

Syrian Kurdish authorities have ​not acknowledged the loss of territory.

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In the days leading up to the capture of the oil and gas fields, Syrian troops had amassed around a cluster of villages that lie just west of the Euphrates and called on the SDF personnel stationed there to move their forces on the ​opposite bank of the river.

SDF fighters withdrew from the area ​early on Saturday, but later accused Syrian troops of violating the agreement by pushing further east into towns and oilfields not included in the deal.

The initial withdrawal deal included the main town of Deir Hafer (east of Aleppo) and some surrounding villages, with predominantly ‌Arab residents.

The Syrian army said four of its troops had been killed in attacks by Kurdish militants. The SDF said some of its fighters had been killed, but did not provide a number.

The two sides engaged in talks last year to integrate Kurdish-run forces into the Syrian government by the end of 2025.

But after the deadline passed with little progress, clashes broke out in the northern city of Aleppo earlier this month.