Deir Az Zor, Syria – Syrian government forces recently seized key oil and gas facilities in Deir Az Zor, marking a significant shift in the control of northeastern Syria and impacting the region’s political economy. This move signals a potential unification of the country under a single government, as Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) face rapid territorial losses. A March 2025 agreement between President Ahmed al-Sharaa and SDF commander Mazloum Abdi aimed to integrate the SDF into state structures, but implementation has stalled. Local tribal dynamics have further complicated the situation, with discontent among Arab clans towards the SDF’s governance spurring support for Damascus.
