Syrian army pushes east in rapid offensive against Kurdish-led SDF - in pictures

  • Syrian government military reinforcements and mobile armour on the M4 motorway to Maskanan, 100 kilometres south-east of Aleppo city, on Saturday, January 17, to push Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces out of the area following clashes last week. Getty Images
    Syrian government military reinforcements and mobile armour on the M4 motorway to Maskanan, 100 kilometres south-east of Aleppo city, on Saturday, January 17, to push Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces out of the area following clashes last week. Getty Images
  • Celebrations as Syrian government reinforcements arrive. Getty Images
    Celebrations as Syrian government reinforcements arrive. Getty Images
  • Syrian special forces have entered Raqqa district, putting pressure on the Kurdish forces withdrawing from the towns of Deir Hafer and Maskana, as well as a military airport. AFP
    Syrian special forces have entered Raqqa district, putting pressure on the Kurdish forces withdrawing from the towns of Deir Hafer and Maskana, as well as a military airport. AFP
  • A welcome for the Syrian army following the withdrawal of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in Maskanah. Reuters
    A welcome for the Syrian army following the withdrawal of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in Maskanah. Reuters
  • Kurdish forces in a pick-up truck on the outskirts of the city of Tabqa in Raqqa province. AFP
    Kurdish forces in a pick-up truck on the outskirts of the city of Tabqa in Raqqa province. AFP
  • Kurdish forces at Tabqa city limits. AFP
    Kurdish forces at Tabqa city limits. AFP
  • Syrian government forces fire a rocket towards Kurdish forces near Dibsi Faraj in northern Syrian. AFP
    Syrian government forces fire a rocket towards Kurdish forces near Dibsi Faraj in northern Syrian. AFP
  • Signs of combat litter the roads as Syrian government forces move near the front line in Dibsi Faraj, in northern Syria. AFP
    Signs of combat litter the roads as Syrian government forces move near the front line in Dibsi Faraj, in northern Syria. AFP
  • Syrian government forces rest near the front line in Dibsi Faraj, in northern Syria. AFP
    Syrian government forces rest near the front line in Dibsi Faraj, in northern Syria. AFP
  • Nechirvan Barzani, President of Iraqi Kurdistan, right, greets US special envoy to Syria Tom Barrack in Erbil. Mr Barrack and Mazloum Abdi, the head of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, arrived in Erbil on January 17. AFP
    Nechirvan Barzani, President of Iraqi Kurdistan, right, greets US special envoy to Syria Tom Barrack in Erbil. Mr Barrack and Mazloum Abdi, the head of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, arrived in Erbil on January 17. AFP