Syria slams NATO plan to deploy Patriot missiles

Damascus has heaped scorn on NATO for its planned deployment of Patriot missiles along Syria’s border with Turkey, calling the move “provocative”.

The Associated Press quoted Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Meqdad as saying on Thursday: “There is absolutely no justification for that NATO’s move to deploy missiles, because Syria will not attack the friendly people of Turkey.”
He added: “The Turkish move and NATO’s support for it is a provocative move, part of psychological warfare against Syria.”
Meqdad noted that the “bankrupt” Turkish government was “begging for assistance” from NATO member states.
He stressed that the missile deployment would not affect Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s firm determination to quell terrorists, fighting against his government.
The Syrian official also warned against the catastrophic consequences of any military intervention in Syria.
On Tuesday, NATO approved Turkey’s request for the deployment of Patriot surface-to-air missiles along its border with Syria.
China has warned that the move does not contribute to peace and stability in the region.
Last month, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said the deployment could spark regional conflagration and an armed conflict involving NATO as well.