US scrambled jets as Syrian regime targeted Kurdish forces: Pentagon

Columbia: The US-led coalition scrambled fighter jets to protect Kurdish forces working with American advisors in Syria as they were being targeted by planes from President Bashar al-Assad`s regime, the Pentagon said Friday.

"This was done as a measure to protect coalition forces," Pentagon spokesman Captain Jeff Davis said of Thursday's incident, in which regime bombers conducted air strikes in the area around the northern city of Hasakah.

"We did make clear that US aircraft would defend troops on the ground if threatened."

No injuries were reported, Davis said.