American Patriot units dock in Turkey

ISKENDERUN – Doğan News Agency

DHA photo

The ship carrying American patriot air defense units to be deployed in Gaziantep, near the Turkish-Syrian border, has docked at the İskenderun port in the province of Hatay.
 
“The patriot air defense systems requested from NATO for defensive purposes arrived at 7 p.m. to the İskenderun port. The equipment transported in this ship will be moved to Gaziantep,” Major Cengiz Alabacak of the Turkish Air Force said.
 
Major Royal Reff of the American Air Force told reporters the units would be operational next week. “There are 70 vehicles in this ship. The ship [only] carries launch systems. The missiles were previously sent to the İncirlik airbase in Adana.” added Reff. 

The first NATO battery in Turkey was made operational in the southern province of Adana on Jan 26.