American jets were scrambled Friday after two Syrian Su-24s conducted a bombing run near USA special operations forces.
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Capt Davis told journalists that the USA had warned Syria via its communication channel with Russian Federation that it would defend coalition troops.
The coalition aircraft arrived to protect the USA personnel from the strikes just as the two Syrian government Su-24 bombers were departing, according to Pentagon spokesman Capt. Jeff Davis, who said none of the US forces on the ground were harmed.
Saying the United States will do what is needed to protect coalition forces, Davis added, “The Syrian regime would be well advised not to do things that would place them at risk”. “We do have the right of self-defense”.
“We will ensure [American and coalition troops’] safety, and the Syrian regime would be well advised not to do things that put them at risk”, Davis said Friday.
“We view instances that place coalition personnel at risk with the utmost seriousness, and we do have the inherent right of self-defense when USA forces are at risk”, he added.
President Barack Obama has authorized the deployment of up to 300 U.S. special operations forces to Syria to work with the Syrian Democratic Forces.
Coalition and US special operations forces were in the area at the time, but no one was affected by the airstrikes and they are safe, he added.
American officials immediately contacted the Russians through communications channels set up by the two militaries under a memorandum of understanding, Davis said.
Separately, two Russian ships in the Mediterranean launched long-range cruise missiles against militant targets in Syria, the Russian defence ministry said.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in a speech Thursday that Ankara was “ready to move against the Kurds if they represent a threat to Turkey”.
Syrian regime warplanes bombarded the northeastern city of Hasakeh for the second day on Friday, targeting positions held by Kurdish forces, a monitor and a journalist in the city said.
Thursday’s airstrikes and the attempted flyover by Syrian fighter jets on Friday both occurred in the general area where American special operations forces train and partner with the Kurdish forces against ISIS. They provide training and also serve as advisers on military operations though the USA forces are not directly on the front lines.
The Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) are a key U.S. ally in the fight against IS. The statement said the military’s response was “appropriate” and that futher attacks would be met with force.
U.S. President Barack Obama has authorized the deployment of up to 300 U.S. special operations forces to Syria to work with the Syrian Democratic Forces.
Since Thursday, Kurdish neighborhoods in Hasakah have been exposed to heavy shelling and airstrikes by the regime forces. “We’ve not seen the regime take this kind of action against YPG before”, he said, using an acronym for Syrian Kurdish forces.
Since 2012, the Kurdish region has been administrated by local Kurdish forces after government troops largely withdrew to focus on fighting rebels elsewhere.
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He regretted that aid convoys have been blocked from reaching a number of places, including Madaya and Foua, for over 110 days amid increased fighting.
