Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces group says it has dissolved after merging with the Syrian army

DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) -- The commander of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces on Tuesday announced the official dissolution of the group, which once controlled a de facto autonomous zone in Syria's northeast.

Speaking during a news conference at the presidential palace in Damascus, Mazloum Abdi said the SDF has completed a merger with the Syrian army and would cease to operate as an independent force.

The Kurdish-led force lost most of its territory in northeast Syria to a government offensi