Khloe Kardashian Fires Back at Transgender -- It Was Self-Defense!!!

Khloe Kardashian just launched her first counter-attack after a transgender woman sued her for assault -- insisting she didn't do anything wrong during the 2009 street scuffle ... she merely acted in self-defense.

Khloe filed the response in L.A. County Superior Court, claiming Chantal Spears (right) deserved what she got -- because she provoked Khloe into getting physical.

According to Khloe's response, the reality star's conduct "was reasonably necessary for her self-defense and safety."

As we first reported, Chantal sued Khloe in December, claiming Khloe attacked her out of nowhere outside a Hollywood nightclub in 2009 ... for telling Lamar he was "too young to be married."