US sends 400 troops with Patriot missile batteries to Turkish
frontier
The United States will send 400 troops to the
Turkish border along with two Patriot missile
batteries to help its ally defend against
potential threats from neighbouring Syria.
The Telegraph
The move was part of a wider Nato effort to bolster Turkey's air defences amid
growing border tension, with Ankara siding with opposition forces battling President
Bashar al-Assad's regime.
Speaking at the Incirlik base, 60 miles from the Syrian border, Leon Panetta, the US
defence secretary, called Turkey a key ally and said the deployment of Patriot
batteries would ensure Ankara will "have the missile defence they may need".
Germany and the Netherlands have also agreed to provide advanced "hit-to-kill" Patriot
weapons, which are designed to knock out cruise and ballistic missiles as well as aircraft.
On Friday, the German parliament approved by a wide majority the deployment of
the missiles to Turkey, along with up to 400 German soldiers.
The move coincides with rising fears the Syrian regime may resort to using chemical
weapons against rebel forces and after Assad's army unleashed Scud missiles in recent days.
Panetta renewed a US warning that the Assad regime must not use its chemical weapons
against opposition forces, saying the United States was prepared to take military action
if necessary.
He said the Pentagon had drawn up possible options to present to President Barack
Obama "as to what should be done ... should we get intelligence that's what they
intend to do".
But he acknowledged that any attempt to secure or destroy Syria's chemical weapons
would be fraught with danger.
"When you're dealing with this kind of stuff, you can't just simply go in there and blow it
up," as bombing could trigger the release of chemical agents, he said.
"It's not easy," he added.
The Pentagon chief said his biggest concern was that the Assad regime might resort to
chemical weapons in desperation.
"You can't imagine anyone who would do that to their own people. But history is replete
with those leaders who made those kind of decisions, terrible decisions," he said.
"So we have to be ready."
Turkey has vowed to defend its territory after cross-border artillery fire wounded
civilians and following the downing of one of its fighter jets.
The Patriot batteries would not be useful for artillery or mortar fire but would be
employed to thwart missile attacks.
The Patriot, or "Phased Array Tracking Radar to Intercept on Target", came into its
own during the 1991 Gulf War when they were deployed to protect American and
allied forces from Iraqi Scud missiles. The Patriot's boxy launch units became instantly
recognisable in TV images of the conflict.
The anti-ballistic defence system was developed by arms manufacturer Lockheed
Martin for the US military
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