NATO has approved Turkey’s request to acquire Patriot anti-missile batteries for defending against potential airstrikes by Syria, American Forces Press Service reports.
Nick Simeone writes the U.S., Germany and Netherlands will supply the missiles, which will fall under the responsibility of NATO’s supreme allied commander for Europe.
NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said the missiles will be used purely for defensive purposes and will not be utilized to establish a no-fly zone over Syria, according to the report.
The Turkish government is supporting government opposition in the country, AFPS reports.
Foreign ministers told reporters the decision to provide the missiles was an effort to help protect Turkey’s population and territory and defuse tensions at the Syria-Turkey border, as Syrian rockets have killed several people on Turkey’s side of the border.
Simeone writes the ministers also emphasized the defensive purpose of Turkey acquiring the missiles to reporters.
