The Syrian Democratic Forces, tip of the spear in anti-jihadist fight

The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, whose dissolution was announced by their leader Mazloum Abdi on Tuesday, were the Washington-backed de facto army of the Kurds' autonomous administration in Syria and spearheaded the battle against jihadists.

The force was Syria's most highly trained and organised for years, until Washington dropped them for the new US-friendly authorities in Damascus.