Turkey asks NATO to deploy Patriots on its territories, prepares borders with Iraq

Turkey announced yesterday dispatching new equipment and supplies to the borders with Iraq in a "preventive measure" in case a conflict erupts in the region. Turkey also called on the NATO to deploy Patriot anti missiles batteries on its territories in order to defend itself in case it was exposed to a missile attack.

In a statement, the Turkish army leadership said it is necessary to raise the level of preparedness of the military units because of the prevailing developments at the regional security level.

NATO diplomatic sources recently reported that Turkey wants from the NATO to deploy Patriot missiles in southern Turkey and to support air surveillance by AWACS planes as well as to strengthen the presence of the NATO fleets in the Mediterranean.