Final answer:
The Kurds have established the most significant level of autonomy in Iraq. Despite their efforts and a distinct cultural identity, their ambition for an independent nation-state of Kurdistan has been consistently suppressed by regional governments.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Kurds have set up their highest degree of autonomy in Iraq, particularly following the Gulf and Iraq Wars with US support for some measure of Kurdish autonomy. Despite numerous Kurdish insurrections, each has been met with resistance by the governments of Syria, Turkey, Iraq, or Iran. The Kurds are a large ethnic group in the Middle East with their own language, culture, and identity, and have long sought an independent state known as Kurdistan, covering parts of Iran, Iraq, Turkey, and Syria. However, the movement for Kurdish independence has faced significant challenges and suppression, especially from the Turkish government, which has not recognized the Kurds' claim to a homeland in eastern Turkey. The city of Diyarbakir in Turkey is often regarded by Kurds as the potential capital of Kurdistan.