Panetta orders deployment of Patriots, troops to Turkey: US

INCIRLIK: The United States will deploy two Patriot missile batteries to Turkey along with 400 troops to help defend its ally against potential threats from neighbouring Syria, US officials said Friday.

"The secretary, as we are en route to Turkey, has signed an order that will deploy some 400 US personnel to Turkey to support two Patriot missile batteries," George Little told reporters aboard Panetta's plane before the US defence chief arrived at Turkey's Incirlik air base. "We expect them to be deployed in the coming weeks."