Coalition jets scrambled to defend U.S. forces from Syrian bombing

By Idrees Ali WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A U.S.-led coalition sent aircraft into northeastern Syria on Thursday in a "very unusual" move to protect American special operation ground forces from attacks by Syrian government jets, a Pentagon official said on Friday. Pentagon spokesman Captain Jeff Davis told reporters the coalition aircraft reached the area around the city of Hasaka as the two Syrian SU-24s were leaving, and the U.S. special operation forces were in the area where the strikes were tak