The Syrian army continued its push into Kurdish-held territory on Saturday, despite U.S. calls to halt its advance in towns in the area in Syria's north.

In the space of two days, the Syrian military, aided by tribal militia, has driven Kurdish forces from wide swathes of northern Syria that they have held for more than a decade.

The Kurdish region remains a major obstacle to President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s consolidation of control over Syria.

Syrian troops swept through dozens of towns ‌and ​villages in the country's north on Saturday ‌after Kurdish fighters withdrew under an agreement that aimed to avoid a bloody showdown between ​the rival forces.