German troops, who will operate NATO’s Patriot air-defense systems deployed in Turkey, departed on Sunday. A ceremony was held at a military base in Berlin-Tegel airport for the departure of the nearly 240 German troops with the operation “Active Fence Turkey.”
U.S. combat operations in Afghanistan to end this spring
President Obama and Afghan President Hamid Karzai said today that most U.S. combat operations in Afghanistan would end this spring, signaling a quickening troop drawdown that will bring the decade-long war to a close at the end of 2014. “Our troops will continue to fight alongside Afghans when needed, but let me say it as […]
US Troops in Turkey to man the Patriot Missiles
The U.S. military says troops are arriving in Turkey to man Patriot missiles there. Germany, the Netherlands and the United States are deploying two Patriot surface-to-air batteries each to boost NATO ally Turkey’s air defenses against any possible spillover from Syria’s civil war.
NATO Says ‘Desperate’Syria Fires Missiles
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization has detected the Syrian military firing missiles, the group’s civilian chief said, but none of the rockets had fallen into Turkey, where the alliance is installing Patriot missile defense batteries.
Iran warned Turkey against deploying Patriot missiles
An Iranian official has warned Turkey against deploying missiles to its border with Syria, calling it a plot to create a “world war.” Within Syria, rebels claim to have fought back government forces in Daraya. An Iranian military official has taken issue with the Patriot
US to Deploy Anti-Missile Units in Turkey
US Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta signed an official deployment order on Friday to send 400 American military personnel and two Patriot air defense batteries to Turkey as its tensions intensify with neighboring Syria, where government forces have increasingly resorted to aerial attacks
400 German soldiers will help Turkey with the patriots
The deployment of Patriot systems along Turkey’s border with Syria will probably take place in early 2013, as technical work to determine the number of batteries and sites continues, local Hurriyet Daily News reported Thursday, APA reports quoting Xinhua. “It’s hard to give a precise date for the deployment of the Patriots.
Russia opposes NATO missile deployment on Turkey-Syria border
Russia opposes the possible deployment by NATO of Patriot missiles near Turkey’s border with Syria, the foreign ministry said on Thursday. “This would not foster stability in the region,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said of Turkey’s request for deployment to the Western military alliance.
Turkey has requested deployment of NATO Patriots
Turkey’s government requested the deployment of NATO’s Patriot surface-to-air missiles Wednesday to bolster its defenses along its border with Syria.
NATO demands halt to Syria aggression against Turkey
NATO demanded an immediate halt to “aggressive acts” against alliance member Turkey on Wednesday after a mortar strike launched from Syria killed five Turkish civilians. Ambassadors from the alliance’s 28 member nations held an emergency late-night meeting at NATO headquarters, at Turkey’s request, to discuss the strike.