Washington to withdraw Patriot missiles protecting Turkish border with Syria

Washington has confirmed that as scheduled in October it will be withdrawing American Patriot missiles deployed in Turkey in the summer of 2013 to protect it from potential rockets fired from Syria despite the developments in the country, the Pentagon has revealed.

Department of Defence spokeswoman, Laura Seal, said: “We continue to anticipate the completion of the process of withdrawing these missiles in October.”

The US and Turkey announced in August that the missiles deployed by NATO in 2013 to guard Turkey against potential rockets from Syria would be withdrawn.

Washington justified this withdrawal by saying they were necessary for critical modernisation upgrades. Germany also announced that they intend to withdraw their Patriot batteries as well.

NATO can still count on the Spanish battery deployed in January 2015 in the southern city of Adana.

According to the US Department of Defence, the Patriot assets and personnel can return to Turkey within one week if needed.

Patriot missiles are capable of destroying tactical ballistic missiles in the air, as well as cruise missiles and aircrafts.