US to pull out Patriot missile system from Turkey
ANKARA: The United States is withdrawing its Patriot missile system deployed near Turkey’s border with Syria when its mandate expires in October.
A joint Turkish and US announcement said on Sunday that the air-defence units could be returned to Turkey within a week if the need arises. It said US navy ships would be present in the Mediterranean to support Turkey’s defence.
The US, Germany and others deployed the batteries in 2013 to protect Nato ally Turkey after shells fired from Syria landed in the country.
The US decision comes a day after Germany said it would withdraw some 250 troops stationed in Turkey when the mandate for their air-defense mission ends next year.
Published in Dawn, August 17th, 2015
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