DAYR AL-ZAWR (Dispatches) – The so-called Syrian Democratic Forces, groups in northern Syria have announced the formation of a civilian council to govern the oil rich eastern province of Dayr al-Zawr where they are racing with the Syrian army to capture territory held by Daesh.
The U.S.-backed SDF, which includes militants but is dominated by the powerful Kurdish YPG militia, launched an operation in the Dayr al-Zawr province which borders Iraq earlier this month which captured its northern countryside and advanced east of the Euphrates River.
On Saturday they seized a major gas field in Dayr al-Zawr province from Daesh terrorists in rapid advances that preempted the Syrian government that was also heading in that direction.
In a separate offensive, Syrian army backed by Russian air power had also this month broke a years-long Daesh siege of government-held parts of Dayr al-Zawr on the other side of the Euphrates river.  
The advances against Daesh have brought U.S.-backed forces and the Syrian government side, backed by Russia and Iran, into close proximity.
The assaults by the Russian-backed Syrian army and the U.S.-backed SDF have at times raised fears of clashes that could stoke tensions between the competing world powers.
The SDF appointed one hundred tribal figures to meet and elect a council to run the province on Sunday.
In a final communiqué the council said its priority was the return of tens of thousands of displaced residents of the province who fled during the conflict and restoring basic utilities. It urged the U.S.-led coalition to provide aid to the war-torn province.