Name: Syrian government seizes control of key oil and gas fields
Uploaded: 2026-01-19T12:55:37.020Z
Duration: 3 min 3 s
Description: Syrian troops have seized control over the crucial oilfields – a key point in a March 10, 2025 agreement between Damascus and the SDF.

Syrian troops have seized control over the crucial oilfields – a key point in a March 10, 2025 agreement between Damascus and the SDF.

Damascus

Syrian government forces, along with allied Arab tribal fighters, have seized control of significant oil and gas fields in northeast Syria, including the Al-Omar and Conoco fields. These facilities, previously managed by Kurdish-led groups, were vital sources of revenue and energy for the region, underpinning Kurdish de facto autonomy.

The loss of these resources threatens the financial stability of Kurdish authorities, impacting civil service payments, subsidized fuel, and security operations. The government now controls key infrastructure such as the Tabqa Dam, but experts note that Syria's energy sector requires substantial investment to restore full capacity, which is unlikely without lasting peace.

Syrian government seizes control of key oil and gas fields

Northeast Syria's oil and gas is a financial lifeline for whoever controls it. Kurdish-led fighters have benefited from revenue through local refining via makeshift tar ovens and supplying diesel, petrol and electricity. Economic leverage central to the Kurdish de facto autonomy. Now many of these energy facilities are under Syrian government control. Among them Al-Omar is Syria's largest field, a major revenue and fuel source. Before the war it was producing up to 80,000 barrels per day. Konako gas field used to be a major energy hub with a capacity of 13 million cubic metres per day. It significantly enhances Syria's natural gas availability for electricity generation. But the current condition of the plant is non-operational due to ongoing conflicts and reports that the SDF dismantled and transferred some equipment to al-Hasakah province. The Ramillion and al-Sawada fields provide the historic core of oil and gas production, which is vital for the Jazira region power plants. The al-Tanak and Jafra fields supply the Euphrates River valley. That's home to mostly Arab tribes with often transactional loyalty to the SDF. In addition to hydrocarbons, the Euphrates River is the main water artery of northeast Syria, feeding both agriculture and hydroelectric plants. The Euphrates Lake can store 14.1 billion cubic metres of water. It supplies water for irrigation, drinking and industrial use along the Euphrates corridor, including the provinces of Raqqa and Deir ez-Zor. The most significant infrastructure is the Tabqa or Euphrates Dam. It generated nearly a third of Syria's electricity supply. Now the control of Tabqa enables coordinated electricity distribution as the government in Damascus wants to provide more power to reconstruction zones and the capital. The Tishrin Dam is the other major infrastructure project, but since the fall of the regime it's been contested between government forces and the US-backed Kurdish fighters. As front lines have collapsed, fighters have told al-Jazeera they're hopeful that Tishrin too will soon be under their control. Now that Syrian government forces and allied Arab tribal fighters have seized Al-Omar, Conoco and other infrastructure, Kurdish forces have lost much of their independent revenue. This now threatens their civil service payments, subsidised fuel and security operations. The rapid collapse of Kurdish forces happened as they lost US military cover and also lost support from Arab tribal groups, including members of the powerful al-Bahamad and al-Baghara tribes. Regardless of who controls them, Syria's rich oil and gas fields and power plants need billions of dollars of investment to reach their true capacity. And unless peace prevails, that investment is unlikely to come. Paul Ging, al-Jazeera.

Prince Harry is back in a London court, along with a slew of other high-profile figures, fighting the publisher of the Daily Mail over invasion of privacy and illegal information gathering tactics.

London

Prince Harry back in London court fighting British tabloids

Billionaire wealth surged at three times ‍its recent pace ​last year to reach its highest level on record, deepening economic and political divides that threaten democratic ⁠stability, anti-poverty group Oxfam said.

World billionaire wealth hits new peak amid rising poverty, Oxfam says

A high-speed train collision that caused a derailment in southern Spain has killed at least 39 people, officials say. Investigators are working to determine the cause of the crash.

Adamuz

High-speed train crash in Spain kills dozens

Prime Minister Mark Carney is considering sending Canadian Forces personnel to Greenland for military exercises with NATO allies in the wake of U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff threats on European nations who block his efforts to acquire the island, two senior Canadian officials told CBC News.

Ottawa

Carney considering sending troops to Greenland for NATO exercises

The deal followed hours after the Syrian army seized oil and gas fields and two major northeastern towns in clashes with the SDF. Fighting earlier this month has displaced tens of thousands.

Aleppo

Syrian government agrees to ceasefire with Kurdish-led SDF

European countries held an emergency meeting in Brussels Sunday in response to President Trump's post threatening tariffs against countries that have sent military forces into Greenland amid his push to annex the Arctic island.

Brussels

European leaders denounce Trump's tariff threat over Greenland

After 25 years of talks, the EU signed the EU-Mercosur trade deal on Saturday, creating a 700 million-person free-trade area. Ratification is still pending, however, with the European Parliament set for a heated debate.

Asunción

EU seals contentious trade deal with Mercosur countries

European governments blasted U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement that eight countries will face 10% tariff for opposing American control of Greenland beginning next month.

Nuuk

Greenland Stand-Off

European governments condemn Trump's tariff threats over Greenland

Palestinians in Gaza expressed both concern and hope after the White House announced some members of a so-called "Board of Peace" that will supervise the temporary governance of the war-torn enclave, which has been under a fragile ceasefire since October.

Jerusalem

Middle East Conflict

Gazans wary as U.S. names 'Board of Peace' under Trump's plan

U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to raise tariffs on eight European countries until they allow the U.S. to buy the autonomous Danish territory.

Trump escalates pressure on Europe over Greenland control

Protesters who support the surge of federal immigration officers in Minneapolis have clashed with counter-protesters, while state officials announced that the Minnesota National Guard had been mobilized. Adding to the mayhem was the freezing January weather.

Minneapolis

Pro and anti-ICE protesters clash in Minneapolis

Iran's supreme leader blamed the U.S. for the protests against his regime that resulted in a violent crackdown. Willie James Inman has President Trump's response.

Tehran

Iran blames U.S. for protests, Trump punches back

President Trump announced that he would institute 10% tariffs on eight European countries who oppose his plan to put Greenland under U.S. control. The announcement came after a bipartisan group of congressional lawmakers flew to Denmark to express support for keeping Greenland under Danish control.

Trump announces new tariffs on European countries who backed Greenland

Large crowds of demonstrators marched through Copenhagen and other Danish cities on Saturday in support of Greenland's sovereignty amid tensions with the US.

Copenhagen

Thousands take part in 'Hands off Greenland' protests in Denmark

The United States will impose increasing tariffs on several European countries until the U.S. is able to purchase Greenland, President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social. Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Finland would face the tariff.

Global Tariffs

Trump threatens tariffs against European nations over Greenland support

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni won his seventh term with 71.65% of votes, according to official results Saturday, defeating the youthful challenger who campaigned for change after four decades of the same government.

Kampala

Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni wins seventh term

There will be no territorial concessions in Ukraine, the Ukrainian president said, answering Euronews' question on whether Kyiv is now being pressured into territorial concessions.

Ukraine Invasion

Ukraine will not cede any of its territory, Zelenskyy says

The United States on Thursday said Iran halted 800 executions of protesters under pressure from President Donald Trump, after Gulf allies appeared to pull him back from military action over Tehran's deadly crackdown on demonstrations.

U.S. claims Iran halts executions of protesters amid crackdown

Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado met with President Donald Trump on Thursday at the White House. She presented Trump with her Nobel Peace Prize medal, which was seen as a peace offering to win his support.

Washington

Venezuela Strikes

Venezuelan opposition leader presents Trump with her Nobel Peace Prize

A U.S. Senate delegation is meeting with Danish officials on Friday to defuse the standoff between President Donald Trump and Denmark over Greenland. Denmark sent soldiers to Greenland and they will be joined by military units from various NATO allies.

NATO troops head to Greenland amid Trump's threats

NASA says it could be just weeks away from launching astronauts on a flight around the moon for the first time in more than half a century. Final preparations are underway at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, where the Artemis II moon rocket is expected to roll out to the launch pad on Saturday.

Cape Canaveral

Final preparations for Artemis II launch underway

A South Korean court on Friday (January 16) sentenced former President Yoon Suk Yeol to five years in prison on charges that included obstructing attempts by authorities to arrest him following his failed bid to impose martial law in December 2024.

Seoul

Five years' jail for South Korea's Yoon in first martial law penalty

US President Donald Trump is threatening to use military force against Americans after clashes between protestors and law enforcement in Minneapolis. The city has been on edge since the fatal shooting of a protester, Renee Good, by an ICE officer.

Trump threatens to use military against Minneapolis protests

The U.S. and Taiwan clinched a trade deal that cuts tariffs on many of the semiconductor powerhouse's exports, directs new investments in the U.S. technology industry and risks infuriating China.

U.S., Taiwan strike deal on tech tariffs risking China's ire

The United Nations Security Council has held an emergency meeting to discuss the deadly anti-establishment protests in Iran at the request of the United States. President Donald Trump has refused to rule out military action on Iran over the killing of protesters. Tehran has vowed to retaliate if that happens.

Iran, U.S. clash at UN over protests as calls grow for restraint

Tensions are soaring in Minneapolis as protesters face off against federal agents. As Matt Gutman reports, it comes after a Venezuelan migrant was shot by an ICE agent after allegedly trying to flee federal officers.

Tensions flare in Minneapolis after second shooting by ICE agent

Ali Shaath, the Palestinian former government official chosen to administer Gaza under a U.S.-backed deal, has an ambitious plan that includes pushing war debris into the Mediterranean Sea and rebuilding destroyed infrastructure within three years.

Tel Aviv-Yafo

U.S. backs Palestinian civil engineer to administer Gaza

The U.S. has announced the launch of the second phase of President
Donald Trump's peace plan in the Gaza Strip, which will involve moving from a ceasefire to demilitarization.

Gaza deal's second phase to begin

CBS News met with fighters from an armed and outlawed Iranian opposition group in the mountains of northern Iraq who said the protests in Iran have given them hope. They believe the regime can be toppled "if the people who are demonstrating on the street get international help."

Iranian opposition group says protests give hope to topple regime

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Wednesday a "state of emergency" will be declared in the energy sector, after relentless Russian strikes on heat and electricity supplies during freezing winter temperatures.

Breakdown