ANKARA, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) -- A German officer said Monday that the deployment of Patriot missiles in Turkey is "a clear sign of NATO's deterrence," as ships carrying the missile systems from Germany and the Netherlands arrived in Turkey.
"We hope the mission will not take too long. Because it's a clear signal of deterrence in the NATO system of integrated air defense," Col. Marcus Ellermann, the commander of German Patriot Missile Defense System, told reporters in Iskenderun port in southern Turkey.
"But if we are wanted to stay longer we'll do it," Ellermann was quoted as saying by the Turkish NTV channel.
The systems would be active in couple of days, he added, reiterating that the Patriot systems are capable of targeting any missiles loaded with chemical weapons.
Denmark-flagged Suecia Seaways ship unloaded Monday in the Turkish port military vehicles sent from Germany.
The United States, Germany and the Netherlands are each deploying two Patriot batteries in Turkey's southeastern region upon the Turkish request from NATO with the purpose of boosting Turkey's air defense capabilities and protecting Turkey in case neighboring Syria launches an attack.
The Dutch ship carrying Patriot systems are waiting for unload the batteries offshore southern Iskenderun port, NTV reported.
The Turkish government requested in November the support of NATO air defense elements to boost Turkey's air force, after several artillery shells from Syria struck a Turkish border town and killed five civilians in October.
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