DHAKA: American fighter planes have been scrambled to the Syrian city of Hassakeh to protect US special forces on the ground from Syrian government aerial attacks.

The US military says, reports the BBC.

The Pentagon said the Syrian planes were leaving as its jets arrived.

People in the north-eastern Syrian city say government warplanes have hit Kurdish districts there for the past two days.

Thousands are reported to have fled their homes.

Hassakeh is mainly under the control of a Kurdish militia, the YPG.

Syrian government’s warplanes bombed Kurdish areas of Hassakeh for the second day running on Friday.

On Thursday, the US ‘scrambled’ - quickly launched - fighter jets to defend some special forces soldiers that were in the area, but did not have to engage in combat because the Syrian planes turned and left as they arrived.

Much of Hassakeh is controlled a Kurdish militia, the YPG.

BDST: 1133 HRS, AUG 20, 2016
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