Syrian government regains control of Euphrates Dam

Management of the dam’s water and hydroelectric facilities has now been handed over to government technicians and specialist staff, officials said. (SANA)
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Updated 18 January 2026
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Syrian government regains control of Euphrates Dam

  • The Euphrates Dam plays a central role in Syria’s water and energy supply

DAMASCUS: Syrian government forces on Sunday took back control of the Euphrates Dam, one of the country’s most critical pieces of infrastructure, ending years of administration by the Syrian Democratic Forces, according to the Syrian Arab News Agency.

Management of the dam’s water and hydroelectric facilities has now been handed over to government technicians and specialist staff, officials said, marking a significant shift in control of a strategic site in the northeastern Syrian Arab Republic.

The Euphrates Dam plays a central role in Syria’s water and energy supply. 

Its hydroelectric power station, located on the dam’s right bank, contains eight generating units, each with a capacity of 110 megawatts, supplying electricity to large parts of the region.

The dam also holds Lake Al-Tabqa, also known as Euphrates Lake, which stretches around 80 km in length and up to 8 km in width, covering an area of approximately 640 sq. km. 

At full capacity, the reservoir can store up to 14.1 billion cubic meters of water, making it a key source of drinking water, irrigation and power generation.

Officials at Syria’s Ministry of Energy said the return of the dam to government control secures a strategic location and restores essential services to millions of people, underlining its importance to water resource management and the country’s electricity network.


UK calls on Israel to reverse its move to expand control over West Bank

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UK calls on Israel to reverse its move to expand control over West Bank

  • Critics have said Israel’s move ‌to ease ‍settlement expansion ‍and widen its ‍powers in the West Bank went in the direction of annexing ​occupied land

LONDON: Britain on Monday called on Israel to reverse ​its decision to expand control over the West Bank, joining Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates ‌in criticizing the ‌move.
“The ‌UK ⁠strongly ​condemns ‌the Israeli Security Cabinet’s decision yesterday to expand Israeli control over the West Bank,” the British government said. ⁠Critics have said Israel’s move ‌to ease ‍settlement expansion ‍and widen its ‍powers in the West Bank went in the direction of annexing ​occupied land.
“Any unilateral attempt to alter the ⁠geographic or demographic make-up of Palestine is wholly unacceptable and would be inconsistent with international law. We call on Israel to reverse these decisions immediately,” the British ‌government added.