Ankara, March 10 (QNA) - Turkiye on Tuesday announced the deployment of the US-made Patriot air defense system in the eastern province of Malatya as part of NATO's collective defense arrangements, in a move aimed at strengthening the country's air defenses amid rising regional tensions.

In a statement, the ministry said the deployment is intended to enhance Turkiye's air defense capabilities in light of evolving security developments in the region and to safeguard the country’s airspace and critical infrastructure.

The Malatya region represents a key component of NATO's missile defense architecture, hosting the alliance's Kurecik radar base, which is used for early warning and the detection of missile threats.

The move comes amid escalating military tensions in the region, prompting Turkiye to bolster its defensive measures in coordination with NATO allies.

The ministry added that NATO's air and missile defense forces had successfully intercepted a ballistic missile launched from Iran after it entered Turkish airspace on Monday. (QNA)