Photo: tert.am

US military officials said this week that most of the US military units deployed to protect Turkey will be ready to fulfill this duty on Saturday. Violence has been growing in neighboring Syria for 20 months. According to a source in Incirlik, Turkey, US troops will be available there tonight. US soldiers from Europe arrived in Incirlik for reconnaissance around Gaziantep, where artillery has been positioned to protect Turkey from Syrian missiles. Germany and the Netherlands sent two surface-to-air Patriot missiles units to deploy near the Syrian border. The Germany Defense Ministry said that their unit left the port city of Eindhoven, Netherlands, on Tuesday and is expected to arrive in Turkey on January 21. Germany’s force includes more than 400 soldiers, two Patriot missiles with 16 launch pads, a fire control station, and radar. NATO agreed to the Patriot missile deployment in December, responding to Turkey’s request for protection against Syrian threats.