Germany examining Maraş against possible Syrian chemical attack

ANKARA

German soldiers arrived in Turkey on Dec. 17. AA Photo

German soldiers that arrived in Turkey last week have been conducting detailed studies in the southern province of Kahramanmaraş to prepare for a possible chemical attack by Syria, daily Hürriyet reported today.

The German delegation has examined all units, including the operating rooms, of state and private hospitals in the city in an effort to determine the condition of buildings and list the needs that need to be fulfilled to prepare the province for any chemical attack.

The team has also been searching for hospitals in which German soldiers could receive treatment, according to reports. The studies were also extended to the province’s Agriculture and Livestock Directorate to ensure that necessary measures will be taken for possible infectious diseases and that food will be available.

The delegation also examined hotels that could house German soldiers and met with officials from Türk Telekom to prevent any possible breakdowns in communications. The German military will help eliminate any observed shortcomings, according to reports.

Germany, the Netherlands and the United States will be supplying ground-to-air missile batteries that Turkey requested after a series of cross-border mortars from Syria hit Turkey, killing five civilians in one instance in October.  

The German Patriot missile batteries will be positioned about 120 kilometers from the Syrian border in Kahramanmaraş, with a mandate that will run until Jan. 31, 2014, according to Agence France-Presse.