Türkiye says NATO deploying more defenses to guard southern base

NATO is deploying another U.S. Patriot missile defense system to the southern Turkish province ​of Adana, where personnel from the United ‌States and several other countries are stationed in the Incirlik Air Base, the Turkish Anadolu news agency reported citing the Turkish defense ministry spokesperson.

Ministry spokesperson Rear Adm. Zeki Akturk said that the additional Patriot system deployed by NATO Allied Air Command in Ramstein, Germany is being stationed in Türkiye's southern Adana province, alongside the existing Spanish Patriot system.

He made the remarks during a press briefing at the 10th Main Jet Base Command in Incirlik, Adana, according to Anadolu.

Akturk added that the deployment of the battery came “in addition to the measures taken at the national level to ensure the security of our airspace and citizens.”

Türkiye said ​last week that NATO had deployed a Patriot ⁠system to its southeastern Malatya province, near a ​NATO radar base, as part of steps to boost ​air defences against missile threats from the Iran war, according to Reuters.