NATO is deploying another US Patriot missile defense system to the southern Turkish province of Adana, where personnel from the United States and other countries are located in the Incirlik Air Base, Turkey's Defence Ministry said on Wednesday.
Turkey, which has NATO's second-largest army and neigbhbours Iran, said last week the alliance had deployed a Patriot system to its southeastern Malatya province, near a NATO radar base, as part of steps to boost air defenses against missile threats from the Iran war.
Adana hosts Turkey's Incirlik Air Base, where personnel from the United States, Qatar, Spain, and Poland are located, as well as Turkish troops.
"In addition to national-level measures taken to ensure the security of our airspace and our citizens, another Patriot system, commissioned by Allied Air Command in Ramstein/Germany, is being deployed in Adana, in addition to the existing Spanish Patriot system stationed there," the ministry said at a weekly briefing.
Turkey, an emerging leader in the global defense industry, lacks its own fully fledged air defenses despite development efforts, and has relied on NATO air defenses stationed in the eastern Mediterranean Sea to intercept three missiles it says were fired from Iran since the war began.
Drone targets US Embassy in Iraq
A drone targeted the United States Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq, on Tuesday, with explosions heard in the premises, according to a report by Reuters.
Security sources had said on Tuesday that rocket and drone attacks had targeted the embassy, triggering sirens, with an explosion heard near the diplomatic compound.
At least three explosive drones also targeted a US diplomatic facility near Baghdad International Airport, activating C-RAM air defense systems, the sources said on Tuesday.
In a separate incident, the Saudi Defense Ministry issued an alert over the Al-Kharj governorate after a ballistic missile launch was detected and intercepted, while drones were shot down in the eastern region of the country.
Reuters also reported that the recent Iranian attack against central Israel used cluster munitions, according to Iranian State TV, while the attack was done in response to the recent assassination of Iran’s ‘de facto leader’ Ali Larijani.
UAE condemns Iranian strikes, confirms Palestinian among victims
The United Arab Emirates also issued a condemnation statement on the Iranian attacks against its territory, calling it an "unprovoked terrorist attack."
"His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, expressed his sincere condolences and deep sympathy to the families of the victims of Iran’s unprovoked terrorist attacks targeting the UAE," the UAE said in a statement.
"The victims, who lost their lives as a result of these blatant attacks, are Alaa Nader Awni from the State of Palestine; Murib Zaman Nizar, Muzaffar Ali Ghulam, and Ismail Salim Khan from the Islamic Republic of Pakistan; Ahmed Ali from the People’s Republic of Bangladesh; and Dibas Shrestha from the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal," the UAE statement confimed.
In a separate statement, the UAE said that "it unequivocally rejects any aggression targeting its security or sovereignty, and affirms that it remains steadfast and fully prepared to respond decisively to any threat."
"The UAE will not tolerate any attempt to compromise its security or territorial integrity, and will act with absolute resolve to protect its citizens, residents, and visitors, and defend its national interests."
Later on Tuesday night, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said an Iranian projectile hit near its Al Minhad Air Base in the United Arab Emirates, and that all Australian defense personnel were safe.
"There was minor damage to an accommodation block and a medical facility due to a small fire that was created as a result of a projectile hitting a road leading up to that base," Albanese told reporters in Tasmania.