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The Syrian Army established full control of the strategic Tabqa district in Raqqa province and the Euphrates Dam after expelling YPG/SDF terror group forces, state media reported early Sunday.
The Syrian Army Operations Department said government forces secured the district and cleared it of YPG/SDF terrorists, according to the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA).
The Media and Information Department of the Defense Ministry said 483 members of the terror group contacted authorities to defect, with 181 surrendering to security forces.
An additional 64 YPG/SDF members surrendered after being besieged by army forces in the Mansoura area near the Tabqa district.
The Syrian Army also seized control of Tabqa military airport, Mansoura Dam, and the towns of Ratla and al-Hammam in the Raqqa countryside. Government forces are now less than 5 kilometers from the western entrance of Raqqa city.
Army forces entered the towns of Sabkha, al-Ghanim al-Ali, Hunaida and Safsafa, as well as the villages of Abu Asi, al-Jabli, Zour Shammar and Rajm al-Ghazal, and established full control over al-Mansoura city.
The Syrian government condemned the YPG/SDF for executing prisoners and detainees in Tabqa before withdrawing from the area.
"The Syrian Government condemns in the strongest terms the execution of prisoners and detainees in the city of Tabqa in the countryside of Raqqa Governorate by the SDF and groups affiliated with the PKK, following their withdrawal from the area," the government said in a statement.
"The execution of prisoners and detainees, especially civilians among them, constitutes a fully fledged crime under the Geneva Conventions and is in flagrant violation of international humanitarian law. This criminal behavior reflects the militia-like nature of the SDF and its methods of using civilians and prisoners as hostages," the statement added.
The government said it holds the organization fully responsible, pledged legal accountability to families of the victims and called on the international community to condemn the crime.
The terrorist group also destroyed the Old Bridge and the main water line supplying Raqqa during its withdrawal, according to SANA.
Energy Minister Mohammad al-Bashir announced the Syrian Army's advance west of the Euphrates River enabled the state to take control of strategic facilities that had been outside government administration.
"The relevant institutions have begun receiving vital facilities and installations such as oil fields and pumping stations to ensure continuity of work and sustainable service delivery," al-Bashir said on X.
The Syrian Petroleum Company announced it officially received the Rasafa and Safyan oil fields from army units following the advance into the Deir Hafir and Maskanah areas.
The Aleppo Water Resources Directorate reorganized and operated the main pumping stations, including the Babiri station, after liberating Maskanah and Deir Hafir.
A Syrian security source told Al Jazeera that the SDF withdrew from the al-Omar and al-Tanak oil fields in the eastern Deir ez-Zor countryside.
The SDF also detonated the Rashid Bridge in Raqqa city, according to the Raqqa Media Directorate.
The Operations Department called on the YPG-led SDF leadership to immediately fulfill its announced commitments and completely withdraw east of the Euphrates River.
The army demanded that the group vacate Tabqa city of all military presence to enable civilian administration to perform its duties and cease obstructing efforts aimed at stabilizing the region.
Although the SDF previously claimed it would withdraw from occupied territories west of the Euphrates River to the eastern bank, the group continues to occupy several areas along the river.
Clashes continue between government forces and the terrorist group in regions where the SDF's occupation persists.
The Deir ez-Zor governorate suspended all public institutions and official departments on Sunday for public safety.
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