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Turkey hails solid alliance ties with NATO at Patriot mission handover

Xinhua, January 27, 2015 Adjust font size:

Spanish troops took over one of the NATO's Patriot air defence system missions in southern Turkey from Dutch troops, local Milliyet newspaper reported on Tuesday.

Patriot air-defence system batteries were deployed two years ago in three provinces of Turkey near Syrian border in January 2013.

Two batteries is in Incirlik air base in Adana province, the others are in Gaziantep and in Kahramanmaras.

The mission started upon the request of Turkey from NATO alliance against possible air threats including missile attacks on Turkish territories from Syrian side.

Commander of Turkish Second Army, General Adem Huduti said during handover ceremony in Incirlik air base on Monday that these Patriot missile batteries deployed by NATO decision about two years ago "have boosted Turkish air defence capability," according to the newspaper.

He said that "this mission is solid and strong indicaton of alliance solidarity and determination."

He added that under the Patriot mission in Turkey, two years terms of American and German troops, deployed in Gaziantep and Kahramanmaras provinces, have been extended.

Government of the Nederland has not extended the mission of the Dutch troops. Endit