NATO is deploying additional Patriot missile system installations to Turkey's southern Adana province to protect the Incirlik military base occupied by US and allied military personnel, according to the Turkish Defense Ministry.
"In order to ensure the safety of our airspace and citizens, in addition to national measures, the installation of the Patriot system from the Allied Air Command in Ramstein/Germany has been deployed to Adana, complementing the existing Patriot system from Spain," said Turkish Defense Ministry spokesman Zeki Akturk.
Akturk said last week, a Patriot air defense system installation had been deployed to Turkey's southeastern Malatya province to protect the Kurecik early warning radar station there.
On March 13, the Turkish Ministry of Defense said that NATO air defense systems had intercepted the third ballistic missile launched from Iran since the start of the US-Israeli joint attack on Iran on February 28.
Meanwhile, Iran's Ambassador to Turkey Mohammad Hassan Habibollahzadeh said that Tehran did not rule out the possibility that the missile intercepted in Turkey was launched by a third party.
Previously, Turkey had also asked Iran to refrain from further escalation in the Middle East following the destruction of another missile in Turkish airspace.
"It is very important that tensions in the region (the Middle East) do not escalate and that the conflict does not spread to wider areas. Once again, we urge all parties, especially Iran, to refrain from actions that endanger regional security and could endanger civilian populations," said the head of communications for the Turkish presidential office, Burhanettin Duran on Monday (9/3).
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