Patriots arrive in Turkey

HATAY – Anatolia News Agency

MURAT KIBRITOGLU/ISKENDERUN

Ships carrying Patriot air defense systems to be deployed in Turkey from the Netherlands and Germany docked at İskenderun Port in the southern province of Hatay.

The ship carrying the Patriots, Louise Russ, departed from the Netherlands and docked at Iskenderun Port. Another ship, Suecia Seaways, from Germany also arrived at the port on the morning of Jan. 21. The ship is carrying more than 130 containers as well as military vehicles. The systems will be deployed in Turkey as part of a NATO decision to support Turkey’s air defense against a missile threat from Syria.

NATO said last week the system should be operational by early February, perhaps sooner.