Traffic bottlenecks strain access to Deir el-Zour following government takeover

Описание: (23 Jan 2026)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Deir el-Zour, Syria - 22 January 2026
1. Drone shots of cars crossing bridge into Deir el-Zour ++ MUTE ++
2. Various of people waiting in cars to cross the bridge
3. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Othman al-Thakaria, Syrian man crossing into Deir el-Zour:
++SOUNDBITE STARTS ON SHOT 2 AND CONTINUES TO SHOT 4++
“It used to be difficult to use this bridge and it’s still difficult. It takes longer for us to cross the bridge than it does for us to drive to the bridge. We are hoping that the situation will improve in the coming days.”
4. Drone shot of bridge
5. Cars driving onto bridge
6. SOUNDBITE (Arabic): Khalaf al-Ali, Syrian man crossing into Deir el-Zour:
++SOUNDBITE CONTINUES TO SHOT 10++
“People are suffering. If someone is sick, it takes them an hour, an hour and a half to cross the bridge. We need to find an alternative solution to this bridge, maybe start using al-Siyasiya bridge again or build another bridge so we have two one-way bridges, it would be better. As I said if someone is sick or it’s an emergency, people can’t wait that long to cross, it’s a problem, it’s a huge problem.”
7. Various of motorbikes waiting to cross
8. Policeman beckoning bikes to move
9. Bikes moving
10 Drone of bridge
STORYLINE:
Traffic bottlenecks and long delays have intensified on the main bridge leading into Syria’s eastern province of Deir el-Zour as civilians begin returning and traveling into the area following the Syrian government’s takeover from the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces.

For years, access to Deir el-Zour was restricted by front lines, damaged roads and bridges destroyed during the civil war, and SDF-controlled checkpoints that limited movement in and out of the province.

With government forces now asserting control after recent clashes and a negotiated withdrawal of SDF units, traffic has surged along the remaining usable routes, overwhelming a bridge already strained by years of neglect and damage.

Because of the widespread destruction left by the war, traffic jams stretching hundreds of vehicles have gridlocked the road leading into Deir el-Zour, turning short trips into hours-long waits.

“It used to be difficult to use this bridge and it’s still difficult,” said Othman al-Thakaria, who works as a teacher in Deir el-Zour. “It takes longer for us to cross the bridge than it does for us to drive to the bridge. We are hoping that the situation will improve in the coming days.”

Others say the delays have become dangerous, particularly for medical emergencies.

“People are suffering,” Khalaf al-Ali said, as he waited on the bridge to cross. “If someone is sick, it takes them an hour, an hour and a half to cross the bridge. If it’s an emergency, people can’t wait that long. It’s a huge problem.”

The worsening congestion comes after weeks of fighting between Syrian government forces and the SDF in northern and eastern Syria, including clashes around Aleppo that displaced tens of thousands of people.

The fighting ended with agreements that saw SDF fighters withdraw from several areas and the government move to re-establish control over key provinces, including Deir el-Zour.

While the shift in control has opened access for civilians who were previously unable to enter the province, it has also exposed the scale of infrastructure damage left by more than a decade of war.

With only limited crossings over the Euphrates still functioning, residents say movement remains slow and precarious, even as people return to rebuild their lives.

AP Video shot by Ghaith Alsayed



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