Azerbaijan, Baku, Jan.22 / Trend, A.Taghiyeva /
A ship began carrying parts of Patriot surface-to-air missile in the Turkish port of Iskenderun, Anadolu Agency reported today.
It is reported that the ship has recently arrived from the Netherlands.
Earlier it was reported that shipment of Patriot complex's parts, equipment, and arrival of 400 U.S. servicemen within the NATO mission to strengthen Turkey's air defense against possible missile threats from Syria, is expected to be completed in late January.
Turkey turned to NATO in the second half of November with a request to provide it with Patriot systems to protect against Syria's possible air attack.
The Syrian army periodically bombs the border areas with Turkey. In October 2012, six Turkish citizens were killed by Syrian Armed Forces in another direct hit.
Anti-government protests have continued in Syria for a year and half.
According to UN, the total number of victims of the conflict in Syria exceeds 60,000.
More than 230,000 have become refugees with around three million in need of humanitarian assistance. The Syrian authorities say they oppose the well-armed militants.