Patriot missiles heading for Turkey

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ANKARA, Turkey, Jan. 9 (UPI) -- A Dutch Patriot air-defense missile battery is to be deployed at the Incirlik Air Base in Turkey within two weeks, Hurriyet Daily News reported Wednesday.

The United States, Germany and the Netherlands agreed to send two Patriot missile systems each to boost Turkish air defense capabilities against Syrian missile threats, the Daily News said Wednesday. Hundreds of soldiers from the three countries will be deployed in Turkey to operate the systems.

On Tuesday, a Dutch military team headed for the Turkish province of Adana to prepare for the deployment of the Patriot systems and later this month Dutch soldiers charged with operating the systems are to arrive in Adana, the newspaper said in its report, based on unnamed NATO sources.

A ship carrying two German Patriot missile systems left Germany Tuesday and is expected to arrive in the Turkish port of Iskenderun on Jan. 21, the newspaper said. The German missile systems will be deployed in Kahramanmaras province.

Last week U.S, military personnel and military equipment arrived at Incirlik in Adana.

Missiles fired from Syria in recent months have caused a number of Turkish fatalities and damaged buildings and homes in villages near the Syrian-Turkish border.