The political wing of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces has started forming a unified administration for its territory, a move that would consolidate its authority in northern and eastern Syria.
The SDF controls around a quarter of the country, much of it captured from Islamic State with U.S. military help. It is the largest chunk of Syria outside the hands of President Bashar al-Assad’s state.
The SDF wants the seven-year war to end with a federal system that secures minority rights, including for Kurds.
Kurdish leaders say they do not seek an independent state. They have mostly avoided conflict with Assad, as his army defeated rebel factions in western Syria fighting to topple him.