Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan.10
Trend:
Ships carrying Patriot air defense systems belonging to Spanish military approached the port in Turkish Aegean province of Hatay's İskenderun district Jan.9, RIA Novosti news agency reported with reference to the Anadolu agency.
Spanish Patriots, which will be positioned at Incirlik military base in southern Adana province within NATO task in place of Netherland's missile batteries that have accomplished 2 years task against threats from Syria, arrived in Turkey via seaway.
The parts of air defense batteries started to be unloaded from the ship just after it docked at the port. Reportedly more than 150 Spanish soldiers will take part in deployment and installation period.
In November 2012, Ankara has asked NATO to provide it with Patriot air defense systems for protection against possible air attack from Syria.
As part of a NATO decision to boost Turkey's air defenses, six Patriot batteries, sent to Turkey by the US, the Netherlands and Germany, as the most effective bulwark against a Syrian missile attack. The batteries have been deployed in the southern provinces of Gaziantep, Kahramanmaras and Adana since January 26, 2013.
Air defense systems of the United States and Germany will continue their work.