U.S. Patriot missiles deployed in Turkey.<br/> <br />The first of two missile batteries the U.S. sent to help protect Turkey from the ongoing conflict in Syria went fully operational Tuesday.<br/> <br />(SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. 10th ARMY AIR AND MISSILE DEFENCE COMMAND COMMANDER COLONEL STEVE RICHMOND SAYING:<br/> <br />"The Turkish government is completing preps to ensure that it will perfom properly and we expect it to be done by the end of this month"<br/> <br />The US, Germany and the Netherlands each committed to sending two batteries and up to 400 soldiers to operate them around three border cities.<br/> <br />All six missile batteries will be connected to central command in Germany.<br/> <br />Syrian government shells frequently land inside Turkish territory, prompting fears that the war between rebel fighters and President Bashar al-Assad's forces could throw the region into conflict.<br/> <br />Turkey and NATO have strongly denied the Patriot missiles are a precursor to a no-fly zone that Syrian rebels have been requesting to protect against Assad's air forces.
