US vows to continue to protect coalition forces in Syria

By Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON

The Pentagon said Monday it would continue to protect coalition forces operating in Syria with air support if they come under attack.

“We will use our air power as needed to protect coalition forces in our partnered operations,” spokesman Peter Cook told reporters. “We would continue to advise the Syrian regime to steer clear.”

Cook extended the warning to "anyone else who may threaten our forces in that area".

The U.S. confirmed last week that it scrambled fighters after coalition forces came under attack by Syrian warplanes.

That has not since been repeated, Cook said, but he added, “we will send aircraft again to defend our forces” if needed.

He was adamant that maintaining such an area for coalition forces does not amount to a no-fly zone.

“It’s not a no-fly zone,” Cook said, but insisted, “the Syrian regime would be wise to avoid areas where coalition forces have been operating.”

The Obama administration has long-insisted that establishing a no-fly zone in northern Syria is not feasible, and would further entrench the U.S. in Syria’s bloody conflict.

Pressed to explain the difference between the no-go zone around coalition forces and the repeatedly floated protection zone, Cook said that it is in-line with long-standing policy to protect coalition forces working in "partnered operations.

“We’ve said repeatedly that we would defend coalition forces on the ground, for one, and we would continue to defend our partnered operations,” he said.