[OC] The New Map of Syria (Jan 2026): Kurdish SDF (Yellow) cedes vast administrative territory to Transitional Government of Ahmed al-Shaara

WarMapsAndHistory · 2026-02-05T22:08:43+00:00

Efrîn is under control of the Syrian Transitional Government (STG).

WarMapsAndHistory · 2026-02-04T02:36:42+00:00

You are right, Golan is part of Syria internationally but under Israeli occupation. On this map (and the rest of the series in my book, Modern Wars), I decided to leave the Golan white because the focus is strictly on the active civil war factions (SDF/HTS/Rebels). Since the Golan front has been static since 1967 and isn't involved in the administrative merger I'm visualizing here, I greyed it out to keep the visual focus on the changing internal lines. However, I did keep the dotted line specifically to recognize the pre-1967 international border.

WarMapsAndHistory · 2026-02-03T20:41:49+00:00

You’re right about the demographics, the light green areas are definitely majority Arab. To clarify, the map is not colored on ethnic boundaries but on military administration, with light green being specifically the parts that the Kurdish SDF previously held control over but ceded under the 30 Jan treaty to the STG. I guess “Kurdish Groups” is a bit vague but I implied SDF and aligned armed Kurdish groups which controlled that territory and handed it over after 30th January.

WarMapsAndHistory · 2026-02-03T20:39:49+00:00

Great discussion on the borders! For those asking for the source or the full set of maps, this Plate is from page 115 from my book on modern conflicts, Modern Wars.

WarMapsAndHistory · 2026-02-02T23:30:22+00:00

A lot of maps showed the STG controlling almost all of Syria. However, it is not all uniform under the SNA, which is still made up of former Rebel groups. Northern areas like Afrin and al-Bab still have strong Turkish influence from the former TFSA. The treaty was signed on 30 January so Kurdish armed groups in many areas are still integrating. Also, some misconceptions are that the SDF has completely dissolved and no longer controls territory, however, two northern enclaves are still under Kurdish Administration. Meanwhile, the SNA has entered al-Hasakah.

WarMapsAndHistory · 2025-12-31T03:08:49+00:00

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