US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta signed a deployment order on Friday to send 400 US soldiers and two batteries of Patriot air defense missiles to Turkey to defend its NATO ally from potential Syrian missile attacks.
By News Wires (text)
The United States will deploy two Patriot missile batteries to Turkey along with 400 troops to help defend its ally against potential threats from neighbouring Syria, US officials said Friday.
The move was part of a wider NATO effort to bolster Turkey’s air defences amid growing tension on the Turkish-Syrian border, with Ankara siding with opposition forces battling President Bashar al-Assad’s regime.
US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta issued the order before landing at the Incirlik airbase in Turkey after a visit to Afghanistan, his spokesman said.
“The secretary, as we are en route to Turkey, has signed an order that will deploy some 400 US personnel to Turkey to support two Patriot missile batteries,” George Little told reporters aboard Panetta’s plane.
via US to send Turkey 400 troops and Patriot missiles – TURKEY-SYRIA – FRANCE 24.
http://www.france24.com/en/20121214-usa-send-turkey-400-troops-patriot-missiles-assad-syria-defence
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