Syrian Army Seizes Omar Oil Field: Power Shifts in Post-Assad Era
Syrian government forces have seized the Omar oil field, the nation's largest, from Kurdish SDF forces. This shift in energy control marks a critical turning point in post-Assad Syria.
A handshake in Damascus hasn't stopped the march in the desert. The Syrian army has seized the country's largest oil field, the Omar facility, from Kurdish-led forces. This move marks a significant escalation in the struggle for control over Syria's natural resources since the ousting of Bashar al-Assad in late 2024.
How the Syrian Army Seizes Omar Oil Field and Strategic Dams
According to Reuters, government troops took control of the strategic Tabqa dam on the Euphrates River on Saturday before pushing eastward. By Sunday morning, officials confirmed they'd secured the Omar oil field, which has been a primary revenue source for the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). The SDF reportedly withdrew to areas east of the Euphrates after deadly clashes last week.
Broken Deals and Recognition of Rights
The latest fighting stems from the failure of a March 2025 agreement intended to integrate Kurdish military and civilian bodies into the national government. While President Ahmed al-Sharaa made a historic gesture on Friday—recognizing Kurdish as a national language for the first time since 1946—the military advance suggests a harder line on territorial and economic sovereignty.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights confirmed the SDF's withdrawal from several towns and the Tanak oil field. However, the situation remains volatile as authorities accuse the SDF of blowing up two bridges in Raqqa to slow the army's progress. At least 12 people died in earlier clashes in Aleppo, highlighting the fragility of the current ceasefire attempts brokered by the US.
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