Khaberni - The Syrian government has initiated the restoration of bridges destroyed by SDF forces during their withdrawal from areas they controlled in the city of Raqqa, located on the Euphrates River, which links the east and west of the country.
Since 2017, Raqqa had been under SDF control until the Syrian army regained control on January 18th of this year, following a military operation that ended the forces’ rule over the city.
Before withdrawing, the forces targeted bridges, particularly the Mansour and Rashid bridges on the banks of the Euphrates River in Raqqa with explosives that caused severe damage, forcing the residents of Raqqa to currently cross the river using motorized boats or rowboats.
Engineer Hassan Rahmoon from the Ministry of Public Works and Housing told Anadolu that the ministry has decided to restore the bridges that connect the banks of the Euphrates River in Raqqa. He explained that the first phase of the repair works will be carried out by land filling within about 20 days, to be followed by the repair of bridge supports with concrete and opening them to traffic.
The engineer mentioned that the aim of these works is to reconnect the two sides of the city and facilitate the movement of residents, linking the east and west of the country.
Meanwhile, Abdullah Al-Jalif, who operates boat transport in Raqqa, said that they are transporting locals and ensuring the delivery of bread and students to the other side of the river. He confirmed that Raqqa's bridges are a strategic point, and that attacks by SDF had resulted in their destruction.
Interaction and Agreement
The destruction of the Euphrates bridges spurred widespread interaction on social media platforms, with Rashid Bridge, the largest in Raqqa, being one of the most notable. SDF rigged and blew it up to prevent the Syrian army's advance towards the city weeks earlier.
On January 18th this year, the Syrian government signed an agreement with SDF to cease fire and integrate the group's elements and institutions into the Syrian state, although the forces continued to commit breaches described by the government as a "serious escalation."
The agreement came after a military operation launched by the Syrian army, during which it regained extensive areas in the east and northeast of the country, following repeated breaches by SDF of their signed agreement in March 2025, which stipulates respect for the Kurdish component among equal rights for all components of the people, and integrating civil and military institutions in the northeast into the management of the state.
The administration of President Ahmed Al-Shar'a is making intensive efforts to control security and extend its control over the entire country since the ousting of former President Bashar Al-Assad on December 8, 2024, after a rule that lasted 24 years.
