Resident near Tabqa: ‘We have suffered a lot and hope things will improve’
Intermittent gunfire can be heard near the Syrian city of Tabqa, which security sources describe as limited clashes between government forces and the Syrian Democratic Forces. Shops remain closed, but some residents are seen outside their homes, lighting fires to stay warm amid cold and rainy weather.
Local resident Ahmad Hussein said fear remains widespread, though there is also hope that the situation will stabilise in the coming days.
“We have suffered a lot, and I hope that the situation will improve with the arrival of the Syrian army,” he said.
The government’s advance has so far focused on Arab-majority areas that previously came under Kurdish control during the fight against ISIL. The group’s defeat in Syria was achieved with significant support from the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces, reshaping control across large parts of the region.
