ADANA
Major Cengiz Alabacak of the Turkish Air Force on Saturday said that the Patriot air defense system deployed in the southern province of Adana became operational and ready for possible detection as of 14.00 hours.
Speaking at a press briefing, Major Alabacak stressed that the Patriot defense system now had the capacity to detect any threat and prevent such a threat.
"Turkish officials are part of the command involving the Patriot air defense system," Alabacak also said.
A Spokesperson for NATO, Lieutenant Colonel Dariusz Kacperczyk indicated that the Patriot systems came to the region to protect 3.5 million people living in the provinces of Adana, Gaziantep and Kahramanmaras.
"The main aim here is defense. There is no intention to attack or establish a no-fly zone," Kacperczyk also said.
