The coalition is now conducting additional combat air patrols in the region, he added.
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“As we’ve said in the past, the Syrian regime would be well-advised not to interfere with coalition forces or our partners”, Davis said.
The Pentagon said the strikes appear to have been launched by the Syrian government.
According to sources close to the YPG, under the ceasefire, the Asayesh (Kurdish security forces) will remain in control of all areas the YPG have taken control of and the Syrian forces and affiliated militias will withdraw and are not be permitted to return to the city.
The encounter occurred in airspace near Hasakah when two Syrian Su-24 aircraft “were met” by the two American F-22 fighters, the official said.
No weapons were fired between the USA and Syria, but the incident was enough of a threat against USA personnel on the ground for the coalition’s military apparatus to swing into action.
The close encounter comes only a day after two Syrian warplanes attacked the Kurds, a key United States ally, forcing USA special operations forces to be withdrawn from their position in northern Syria.
Pentagon spokesman Captain Jeff Davis said the incident was not an intercept and the coalition aircraft reached the area by the time the Syrian government warplanes were leaving.
No coalition injuries were reported in Thursday’s strike.
“To all the elements of the regime and its militias who are besieged in the city you are targeted by our units”, leaflets distributed by the YPG in the city said.
As fighting intensified, the Syrian army deployed warplanes against the main armed Kurdish group, a first by the pro-government forces.
According to the Pentagon, the ground forces tried to contact the Syrian aircraft but there was no response.
Knowing Russia’s strong support for the regime of Syrian President Assad, Davis said a message was sent for them to pass along to the Syrian military “stating our intent to take whatever action is necessary”.
US President Barack Obama has authorised the deployment of special forces troops in Syria to support local militias in the fight against the so-called Islamic State group, but he has repeatedly ruled out sending ground forces to the conflict.
Davis said a small number of USA commandos were in the area Thursday training and advising Syrian Democratic Forces. 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.
Asked whether the USA policy is to shoot down a Syrian or Russian aircraft if it poses a threat to USA troops on the ground, Cook said, “We’re going to defend our forces on the ground, absolutely”.
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“We did engage through our “Memorandum of understanding” with the Russians, specifically after that instance, to have them communicate to the Syrian regime our concerns about what had happened and the fact that it shouldn’t happen again”, Cook said Monday.
