Syrian forces advance deeper into the US‑backed, Kurdish‑controlled northeast

By Mahmoud Hasano and Khalil Ashawi

TABQA, Jan 18 (Reuters) - Syrian government troops are pushing towards Raqqa and Hasakah in the northeast of the country, the last strongholds of the U.S.-backed autonomous Kurdish-led administration, government officials and security sources said on Sunday.

They had earlier taken control of the Deir al-Zor's main oil and gas fields east of the Euphrates River — a key source of revenue for the Kurdish-led forces — dealing a major blow to the group.