NATO to deploy Patriots in Turkey
BELGIUM: NATO said Saturday it would be deploying Patriot missiles in
Turkey over the coming weeks to defend against any threats from
neighbouring Syria.
“The deployment, which will take place over the next few weeks, will
be defensive only,” NATO said in a statement, after the military
alliance agreed earlier this month to station the missiles on Turkish
soil.
“It will not support a no-fly zone or any offensive operation. Its
aim is to deter any threats to Turkey, to defend Turkey’s population and
territory and to de-escalate the crisis on NATO’s southeastern border.”
Germany, the Netherlands and the United States will be supplying
ground-to-air missile batteries, which Turkey requested after a series
of cross-border shellings from Syria, including an attack that killed
five civilians.
NATO-member Turkey, a one-time Damascus ally, has turned into one of
its most vocal opponents over the 21-month conflict in Syria that
monitors say has killed more than 44,000 people.
AFP |