The Pentagon warned the Syrian government on August 19 not to strike US and coalition personnel in Syria, a day after the regime carried out airstrikes in an area near American special operations forces, prompting the U.S.to scramble jets to protect them, the Wall Street Journal reported.
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Davis’ barely veiled threat that the Pentagon could attack Syrian government forces to protect its troops, which are operating in Syria in violation of the country’s sovereignty and without even the fig leaf of a United Nations mandate, point to the basic war aims of Washington and its European allies.
In the northern province of Aleppo, the scene of heavy clashes all month between government forces and rebels allied with militants, 28 civilians were among 38 people killed Saturday in strikes by the regime and its Russian allies, the Observatory said.
The US would “take whatever action is necessary” to defend their troops, Davis also said.
But local fighters being assisted by U.S. Special Operations forces on the ground are often opposed to both the Islamic State and the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The following day, the regime launched its first ever air strikes against the Kurds.
The US quickly sent fighter jets to the area, but by the time the US planes arrived, the Syrians were withdrawing.
The Chinese army’s English-language China Military Online web site declared, “There are already Chinese military advisors in Syria, focusing on personnel training in weapons, since the Syrian government forces are buyers of Chinese weapons, including sniper rifles, rocket launchers, and machine guns”.
The coalition is now conducting additional combat air patrols in the region, Davis said.
The Observatory said that Syrian warplanes struck areas under control of Kurdish fighters in Hassakeh, adding that there was no immediate word on casualties. Ground forces received no response to attempts to contact the planes through a recognized radio channel.
The SDF, has also achieved several victories against the IS with the help of the USA -led airstrikes in the northern province of Aleppo, the latest of which was driving the terror group out of its last major stronghold in the town of Manbej near Turkey.
People’s Protection Units (YPG) spokesman Redur Xelil said the air strikes had hit Kurdish districts of the city, which is mostly controlled by Kurdish groups, and positions held by a Kurdish security force known as the Asayish. Five pro-government gunmen of the National Defense Force were killed as well, the Observatory said.
Around two-thirds of Hasakeh is controlled by Kurdish forces, while the rest is held by pro-government militia.
Last week, the Syria Democratic Forces, a coalition led by the YPG, captured the former IS stronghold of Manbij in northern Syria under the cover airstrikes by the US -led coalition.
Civilian tells VOA Kurdish YPG areas were targeted during airstrike in Hakasa, Syria, Aug. 19, 2016. Hassakeh is mainly under the control of a Kurdish militia, the YPG. The YPG has controlled most of Hasakah city since a year ago.
“If the regime continues bombing in close proximity to USA forces, then simply I think the United States will shoot down the regime aircraft”, Itani said.
The government, which opposes Syrian Kurdish autonomy, has yet to speak about this week’s fighting during which it has used the air force against Kurdish groups for the first time.
Shortly afterward, clashes broke out anew, a Kurdish official said.
The Kurds, the individuals said, think the government-backed moves are linked to a secret agreement between Assad and Turkey – which publicly backs USA insistence that a peace agreement in Syria is not possible until Assad leaves office.
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”. The office of the U.N. Syria envoy, Staffan de Mistura, said several children were among those evacuated Friday from the towns of Foua and Madaya.
“Russia had been flirting with the Kurds”, he said.
“The Syrian regime wanted to send a clear message to the SDF that its power in Hasakah is limited and the regime airstrikes were carried out to serve this goal”.
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Another senior defense official told CNN, “If the Syrians try this again, they are at great risk of losing an aircraft”.
