US troops arrive in Turkey to man NATO Patriot missiles

The United States, Germany and the Netherlands are each deploying two batteries of the U.S.-built defense system to boost ally Turkey's air defenses against any spillover from Syria's nearly 2-year civil war. The Patriot systems are expected to become operational later this month.

The Stuttgart, Germany-based U.S. European Command said in a statement that U.S. personnel and equipment had started arriving at Turkey's southern Incirlik Air Base. Some 400 personnel and equipment from the U.S. military's Fort Sill, Oklahoma-based 3rd Battalion were to be airlifted to Turkey over the coming days, while additional equipment was expected to reach Turkey by sea later in January, the Command said.

[link to bigstory.ap.org]

Dutch Patriot missiles to leave for Turkey on Monday

[link to www.muslimnews.co.uk]

U.S. patriot missile troops arrive in Turkey as Syria war worsens

[link to english.alarabiya.net]

The mission name for NATO's deployment of 6 Patriot missile batteries in Turkey is Operation Anatolian Protector

[link to www.acus.org]

Fighting Continues in Damascus Suburbs as U.S. Troops Arrive in Turkey


BEIRUT | Fighting raged around the suburbs of the Syrian capital on Friday, as rebels sought to gain control of a ring of farming, residential and industrial communities that are a lifeline for the government of President Bashar Assad.

In neighboring Turkey, the first of 400 U.S. troops arrived to operate Patriot missile batteries intended to keep the violence from spilling over into the territory of the NATO country.

The ring of contested Damascus suburbs, known as the ghouta, is home to home to wealthy Syrian landowners and many Sunnis who flocked to the city over the last decade from the countryside.






[link to www.theledger.com]