Voters in Kurdish-held areas of northern Syria cast their ballots in local council elections on Friday, December 1, Kurdish media reported.

The elections come after significant territorial gains by Kurdish-led forces against Islamic State, in a series of offensives supported by the US. They are seen as part of autonomy plans that are opposed by Ankara and Damascus.

Rudaw said the council elections were the second phase of a process that would be followed by parliamentary elections early in 2018. The first elections, held in September, were at the local commune level, it said.

This footage was shared by a Kurdish outlet in north Syria. Credit: YouTube/ANHA via Storyful