Whilst it is inconceivable that the UN Security Council would censure its quasi boss the US, Article 51 and numerous other worldwide laws on nations’ right to self defence still stand and much of the world is increasingly incandescent at the flagrant abuse of all painstakingly fashioned legalities aimed at preventing naked aggressions of sovereignty and nation states. Two of these planes were dispatched to intercept a pair of Syrian Su-24 Fencer aircraft that flew in the vicinity of Hasakah, Syria, according to news accounts citing an unnamed Pentagon official.
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In an escalation of Syria’s five-year war, regime planes on Wednesday bombarded positions held by US-backed Kurdish forces in the city fighting the Islamic State (IS) Jihadist group.
Knowing Russia’s strong support for the regime of Syrian President Bashar Al-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”. “And the Syrian regime would be well advised not to do things that would place them at risk”. The Syrian Arab Army is the land element of Assad’s forces.
The coalition made clear to the Russians to pass along to the Syrians that US aircraft would defend troops on the ground if threatened, the captain said. In the northern province of Aleppo, the scene of heavy clashes all month between government forces and rebels allied with jihadists, 28 civilians were among 38 people killed on Saturday in strikes by the regime and its Russian allies, the Observatory said. Social-media reports indicated that several Kurds were killed in the bombing.
U.S. forces then contacted Russia, which has been bombing parts of Syria for almost a year in support of President Bashar al-Assad, but Russian military officials said the planes were Syrian.
As soon as the strikes began, Kurdish ground forces unsuccessfully tried to hail the pilots via radio. And Syrian warplanes were reported in the Hasakah area again today, showing that the conflict there is not over. The U.S. scrambled aircraft to protect the elite forces, raising the prospect that Washington and Damascus could have been in direct combat for the first time.
The majority of the area around Hasakah is held by Syrian Kurdish forces fighting the Islamic State group, but there are also pockets of Syrian regime forces in the area.
The Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) and forces loyal to the regime of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad are now embroiled in a violent battle in the city of Hasakah, located in northeast Syria.
Around two-thirds of Hasakeh is controlled by Kurdish forces, but the rest is in the hands of pro-government militia. The YPG has controlled most of Hasaka city since past year.
“Hasaka is witnessing a real war now”, Xelil said.
It accused the Asayish of igniting the violence through escalating “provocations”, including the bombing of army positions in Hasaka, and said the Asayish aimed to take control of the city.
President Barack Obama has authorized the deployment of up to 300 USA special operations forces to Syria to work with the Syrian Democratic Forces.
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The complete loss of Hasaka would be a big blow to President Bashar al-Assad’s government and would also dent efforts by Moscow, which had sought through a major military intervention a year ago to help Damascus regain lost territory and prevent new rebel gains.
