Pentagon Chief Spokesperson Dana W. White told reporters that the US-led coalition would defend itself against any attacks by the Syrian government, but that their goal is not to fight the Syrian government.



The statement comes a day after Syrian regime forces were bombed by US jets, after they attempted to attack a SDF headquarters in the Deir ar Zour province.



“Yesterday, Syrian Democratic Forces acted in self-defense with support from the coalition to defeat an unprovoked attack by Syrian pro-regime forces in eastern Syria. Pro-regime forces initiated what appeared to be a coordinated attack on Syrian Democratic Forces east of the Euphrates River deconfliction line,” White said.



“Syrian pro-regime forces moved in a battalion-sized unit formation, supported by artillery, tanks, multiple-launch rocket systems and mortars,” she added.



“After 20 to 30 artillery and tank rounds landed within 500 meters of the SDF headquarters location, Syrian Democratic Forces, supported by the coalition, targeted the aggressors with a combination of air and artillery strikes,” she stated.



According to the Pentagon official coalition advisors were with the SDF, and this action was taken in self-defense. “Pro-regime vehicles and personnel, who were turned around and headed back west, were not targeted. The coalition observed a slow buildup of pro-regime forces over the past week,” she added.



“Coalition officials alerted Russian officials of the SDF presence via the deconfliction line in advance of the attack. The deconfliction line -- the deconfliction process served its purpose. Coalition officials were in regular communication with Russian counterparts before, during and after the attack,” she stated.



Although the Russian government condemned the attack, it said the Syrian government move was not coordinated with Russia.



“Russian officials assured coalition officials they would not engage coalition forces in the vicinity. One SDF soldier was wounded, and there were no coalition casualties. Our forces have the inherent right to self-defense,” the Pentagon official said.



“We are not looking for a conflict with the regime. Any action that takes away from our ongoing operations to defeat ISIS is a distraction,” she said. “If we are attacked, we will defend ourselves,” she concluded.