Stars and Stripes reports that the U.S. contingent for NATO air defense support being deployed in Turkey could be operational by Saturday. Matt Millham writes, “Most of the U.S. contingent deploying to help defend Turkey from any spillover of Syria’s civil war is already on the ground and could be operational as early as Saturday, American military officials said.”
NATO has agreed to send six Patriot batteries and about 1,200 troops for the mission, Active Fence. Turkey requested NATO air defense support after shelling from Syria, killing several Turkish civilians in October.